Suppliers
EDI action should go beyond the internal operations of an organisation to include external relationships too. This section of the toolkit offers recommendations on how to foster and sustain diverse, and inclusive, supply chains.
Working in partnership or collaboration with suppliers who are embedding their own EDI strategies serves to exponentially improve the experiences of your organisation’s employees.
Suppliers directly contribute to outputs; in the case of the creative and cultural industries, building diversity into your supply chain can help your products/services better reflect the needs and wants of diverse audiences.
Incorporate EDI as part of your contract requirements for procurement
Being intentional about EDI means recognising the value that it can bring to every aspect of your business, including procurement. Making this a pre-qualification requirement will ensure that all suppliers appointed are equally committed to diversity and inclusion. Taking a stance against working with organisations that do not demonstrate a commitment to EDI helps to ensure that your organisation’s actions align with its words, and you are making a positive contribution to a fairer society.
Consider developing a supplier diversity policy to ensure your procurement team complies with your EDI commitment. This policy should clearly outline how contractors will be assessed in their approach to EDI, both in the initial tendering process and throughout the length of the contract. This policy should appear as an appendix to all procurement documents, including invitations to tender and requests for proposals.
Make a proactive effort to seek out and work with diverse suppliers
When using external suppliers, the overall responsibility for EDI remains with the business instructing those suppliers. It is crucial that each business makes a proactive effort to seek out and use diverse suppliers. Asking organisations about their understanding of and commitment to EDI can help you work out whether you would like to engage further with them or not.
It is important that procurement managers have an understanding and belief in the business EDI strategy, to ensure and encourage a diverse supply chain.
An organisation’s choice of suppliers has a direct and significant impact on its own workforce, and highlights its commitment to EDI. By making it clear that your business partnerships are rooted in a core set of shared values like EDI commitment, you will be able to better identify suitable organisations.
The creative and cultural industries have long relied on word-of-mouth to recruit and coordinate project teams. Proactively diversifying your network of potential suppliers, partners and collaborators will increase your potential to create a business offer that better reflects the needs and wants of diverse audiences.