Responsible Procurement policy

As a responsible business we seek to use our spending power to the benefit of our community and wider stakeholders. The City Corporation defines responsible procurement as having three main pillars: social value, environmental sustainability and ethical sourcing.

• Social Value means protecting and enhancing the health and wellbeing of local people and the local environment, reducing inequalities, providing skills and employment opportunities, promoting the local economy and building resilience through diverse supply chains.
• Environmental sustainability means reducing negative environmental impacts by working towards net zero and supporting environmental protection and improvement including animal welfare.
• Ethical Sourcing means ensuring that human rights and employment rights

Suppliers to the City will be expected to share in our commitment to responsible procurement through the delivery of goods, services and works - the extent to which will depend on the nature, scope and value of each contract.

Responsible Procurement Policy

The Responsible Procurement Policy outlines the principle commitments the City Corporation is making to drive positive change through our supply chain activities. 

The policy will apply to all contracts awarded by the City Corporation. It requires action from officers with purchasing responsibilities and suppliers providing goods, services or works contracts. 

Responsible Procurement Policy Commitments

The City Corporation commits to working with its supply chain to:

1. Take Climate Action and minimise environmental impacts of procurement on our operations and throughout our supply chain
2. Encourage and facilitate Supplier Diversity (Diverse Owned Enterprises and SMEs) through direct contracts, partnerships and active monitoring
3. Embed equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the contract process and work with suppliers who have proven to take active steps within their own organisations, supply chain and industry
4. Protect human rights in our supply chain by working with suppliers who undertake due diligence to guard against modern slavery and other human rights abuses
5. Facilitate meaningful work-related opportunities, which are actively targeted to enable social mobility and inclusion
6. Achieve meaningful social value outcomes according to organisational and stakeholder priorities through internal collaboration, community input and supplier engagement

Officers and suppliers are encouraged to consider how commitments intersect when designing responsible procurement questions or proposals

Responsible Procurement Impact Report 

This report holds the City Corporation and our supply chain partners accountable and measures our shared success against the City Corporation’s responsible procurement commitments. It also publicly recognises suppliers who have fulfilled their commitments and showcases ‘what good looks like’ to the City Corporation. 

Low Carbon Procurement Guidance

This document is an extension of our Responsible Procurement Policy and our commitment to being a Responsible Business. It supports our vision to create a future where the planet is healthier, focusing on climate action, air quality, waste and single use plastic reduction and biodiversity.