The challenges around modern slavery are intensifying as climate change leaves new populations vulnerable to exploitation. How should procurement and supply professionals respond and stay ahead of the curve? Where can you look for support in managing supply chain risk and ensure ethical behaviours are being adhered to further down the tiers? New research is revealed in this expert panel discussion, and you’ll learn how to challenge suppliers and go beyond surface data provided by third-party platforms.  

Localising your supply chain and engaging SMEs has emerged as a key strategic approach to building resilience. Strengthening local supplier networks not only enhances supply chain stability, but also supports local economies and fosters innovation. How easy is this to do though? What are the specific benefits of engaging with local suppliers and what challenges might you face? How can you ensure that localisation and using SMEs doesn’t open up new risks in your supply chain? Hear about an inspiring project where local suppliers were a prerequisite from the start and have been fundamental to success, and learn the critical considerations when building a resilient supply chain through local partnerships from an expert tech provider.

Procurement holds significant potential in combatting climate change, serving as a powerful lever for driving sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. Its role extends beyond mere transactional activities to become a strategic force for environmental stewardship and resilience. But what specific actions can procurement take to make a difference? Embedding minimum sustainability standards into contracts is one option, but what’s beyond this? How can you influence and support your suppliers’ suppliers to take action? A panel of those at the forefront of this fight offer their view and learn why procurement can be the catalyst to drive transformative change.

There is growing pressure on organisations to be a positive social force. And procurement and supply professionals will make this a reality. What are the most impactful actions in driving social value through your supply chain? What does good look like? And how can you convince your organisation to look beyond cost and insert social value into decision-making? In this live recording of the CIPS Futures Podcast, we explore what’s possible, even in the highly regulated financial services sector.  

Scope 3 measurement and reporting is now integral to procurement’s sustainability roadmap. But what’s coming next? Could generative AI be about to play its part? And what does current best practice look like? In this session, world-leading organisations share their lessons for success – from running supplier workshops to partnerships that create meaningful reductions in their carbon outputs.

The social in ESG has been trailing behind while businesses have been tackling the environmental impact of their organisation. Yet recent legislation has brought the social impact of businesses to the fore, and procurement teams play a critical role in this. What does the ‘S’ mean for procurement and the supply chain? Why is it becoming ever more urgent to address it? And what does best practice look like in doing so? This session will delve into the world of ‘S’, as you learn from a subject matter expert on how businesses across sectors are applying a social lens to step up their procurement game – from supplier diversity and sourcing, to vendor due diligence and management.

Estimating and tracking the carbon output of complex, multi-layered supply chains is no easy task. How do you best measure and report this data? Why are carbon emissions so difficult to measure? And how do you engage suppliers? Watch back this Scope 3 workshop, where one leading organisation will share their story, and get practical advice to help you get started on your own journey.  

Opening up opportunities to diverse suppliers isn’t just a moral imperative; it can give your organisation a strategic advantage. A genuinely diverse supply chain can be the engine of innovation, growth and positive brand reputation. How do you make sure diversity is embedded in decision-making? How do you support your own suppliers to escalate good practice? Hear powerful stories and actionable insights from procurement leaders who have successfully managed the complexities of supply chain diversification – and are reaping the benefits.

The choices facing procurement and supply professionals can be excruciatingly complex. How do you balance multiple stakeholder interests? What’s most important: cost or environmental impact? Speed or reliability? In this keynote address, hear from one of the world’s pre-eminent ethical thinkers about navigating complexity in uniquely turbulent conditions.

Diversity comes in many forms. People who are neurodivergent or who come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds can face significant obstacles in building a career. Is procurement and supply truly accessible to everyone? Is your organisation reaching into all corners of society to find great talent? How diverse is your own thinking? In this inspirational conversation, you will hear from procurement professionals who have faced adversity and, through careers in procurement, altered the trajectory of their lives.

Public procurement is changing. The new Procurement Act will “shake up the UK’s outdated system”, says the government. But where will public-sector professionals see the most immediate change? How should you be preparing your teams? And what new skills will public-sector procurement professionals need? Hear from a panel of public-sector procurement professionals and experts at the sharp end of the new legislation.

Imagine if purpose were at the core of every project you worked on – what could be achieved? The development of emergency vaccination programmes require purpose beyond measure to achieve success, as demonstrated by a global pandemic. Working at the heart of vaccine manufacturing operations, Alice Kan has important lessons to share from her experiences – lessons that will resonate strongly with the daily challenges faced by procurement and supply professionals. How do you best communicate with data and keep stakeholder’s attentions? How do you get the right people around the table to make decisions? Listen to a unique perspective of operating during Covid and be inspired by how purpose can be the driver of success for your own projects.