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. Read more about creative supply chains.
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.
Encourage existing suppliers to improve diversity in their organisations
Committing to supplier diversity does not mean you must uproot your existing supply chain and start again. Rather, having a great relationship with your existing suppliers is likely to place you in a position to encourage and influence them on their own EDI approach. On a practical level, this can involve:
- Sharing your commitment to improve EDI in your supply chain, focusing on why this is an important objective for your organisation.
- Expressing your desire to continue a working relationship with them.
- Engaging in conversation with your suppliers regarding the diversity of their workforce and any EDI activity they are currently engaged in.
- Encouraging progress on EDI action, and committing to change where there are identified shortfalls.
It is important to recognise such change may take time and rushing this process could create friction with your supplier. Too much pressure may result in ‘performative action’ rather than real, meaningful change. Keep talking and working with your suppliers to refine their approaches to EDI.
Supplier diversity outreach, including tips on your website for how to do business with your organisation
An open and transparent approach to procurement will help ensure all potential providers are clear on your requirements. This can be particularly helpful for small independent companies or contractors who may have less experience with tendering.
Reaching out to minority-led suppliers and inviting them to tender is a small step you can take to greatly increase the diversity of your submission pool. This won’t guarantee supplier diversity by itself, but it will prompt organisations to tender where they may not have initially considered themselves eligible or competitive.
While you may wish to adopt this approach, any tips and advice should be advertised publicly on your website for all potential bidders to see.