Local sourcing and supplier diversity

We are committed to sourcing sustainable products from local suppliers and embracing the value that a diverse supplier base adds to our business.

Local sourcing

We recognise that employing the best of the local supplier base offers the benefit of local expertise as well as environmental benefits from reducing transportation.

Local businesses can often provide goods and services of greater value, efficiency and customisation. It is also part of our community strategy, especially in the education sector, to use local sub-contractors. In cases where we outsource catering, for example, our preferred supplier looks to employ local staff and use local suppliers for low-risk food categories. See Our people and Communities for more information on recruiting from local communities.

The table below summarises the £150 million being spent within 10 miles of our listed UK Building Schools for the Future projects:

Building Schools for the Future programme	Local (< 10 miles) spend agreed	Current achievement	increase on our commitment
Durham	52	82	57
Tameside	41	49	21
South Tyneside and Gateshead	25	31	23
Nottingham	35	43	23
Joseph Rowntree	10	15	50

Supplier diversity

We want to ensure that we offer our suppliers equal opportunities to compete for business. Carillion uses CompeteFor, a service which matches buyers with potential suppliers. We advertise supplier contract opportunities, list our key criteria, and gain access to a wide and diverse range of suppliers registered with CompeteFor.

This also helps us identify suppliers who can support other aspects of our sustainable procurement agenda. For example, in our contract with CrossRail, a Greater London Authority (GLA) project, as part of the GLA’s initiative to upskill the local workforce, we select suppliers that offer graduate placements, apprenticeships and job starts to local residents. Our UK Construction business was ‘Highly Commended’ for Supplier Diversity at The Mayor’s Responsible Procurement Awards in 2010, recognising the contributions made to London by our suppliers on GLA projects.

We have furthered our commitment to supplier diversity by working with specialist equality and diversity consultants and local agencies such as CompeteFor, Supply London and Diversity Works for London. The latter supports us in benchmarking our year-on-year performance across projects, which allows us to make continual improvements.

The Triangle Project

Using the CompeteFor portal to advertise opportunities for suppliers on our Triangle Project in London, we selected Kilnbridge Construction for the largest element of the work. Kilnbridge is a medium-sized enterprise based in East London and won this work in competition against much larger suppliers.

In line with our sustainable procurement policies, Kilnbridge was able to provide evidence of employing a diverse workforce and being committed to hiring from local communities.

The team leader at CompeteFor praised our staff on the Triangle Project for the proactive manner in which we advertised supplier contract opportunities through the portal.

Local sourcing and supplier diversity

Local sourcing

Supplier diversity

The Triangle Project

'Highly Commended' for supplier diversity