CIPS
Supplier diversity: What it is and why you need it

Supplier diversity: What it is and why you need it

A growing number of companies are realising the value of having diversity in their supply base and procurement teams are ideally placed to help affect this change. They are in a prime position to help set a diversity policy, drive it forward and gather the metrics and measures needed to evidence success and maintain momentum. 

Those who are already demonstrating good or leading practice in this field are not only winning awards for their work driving economic impact and empowerment in under-represented communities, they credit these programmes with helping to increase their own company’s competitive advantage. Yet while the number of organisations with supplier diversity programmes is growing, investment remains relatively small. 

In this whitepaper we examine what is meant by supplier diversity; explore the benefits to be gained; and look at how you go about it, while avoiding the common pitfalls.

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