This month the Procurement Team has reached a milestone now that 500 of our suppliers have signed-up for a free sustainability action plan. Engaging with suppliers in relation to sustainability is often seen as a resource heavy burden for staff. The Procurement Team has developed a new approach by working with NETpositive Futures: a supplier engagement tool that allows the communication of environmental sustainability and social responsibility straight to the suppliers.

This supplier engagement tool allows companies to develop a personalised sustainability action plan for their own business. During contract management meetings, the University discusses the supplier’s action plan with a view to supporting and recognising their commitment to sustainability. The data gathered during this process is used to identify how the University as a whole can support our suppliers further on sustainability.

Since the launch of the tool the project has now been rolled out to various other organisations such as the North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium, North East Universities Purchasing Consortium and The University Caterers Organisation.

This is a huge breakthrough for the University; the project not only contributes to our social responsibility ambitions but also our obligations under the Modern Slavery Act. More information on responsible procurement at the University, including a recently published report, can be found at on the procurement website.