Procurement Magazine January 2025 | Page 113

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
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Why I started a fully-inclusive supplier diversity platform
diverse suppliers can quickly respond to client demands ,” he adds .
“ They provide commercial flexibility that aligns with buyers ’ budget constraints , while also nurturing strong buyer-supplier relationships that encourage long-term partnerships .
“ Additionally , they can expand geographical reach by delivering products and services to hard-to-access areas and they can enhance business performance by offering customised services tailored to the unique characteristics of each buyer .”
Cultivating diversity Embracing an inclusive strategy for sourcing diverse suppliers allows companies to extend opportunities to marginalised groups , regardless of their diverse identities and enables them to concentrate on awarding contracts based on competence .
Moreover , evaluating suppliers who self-identify their diversity , rather than only recognising those certified by advocacy organisations , broadens the supplier base and enhances access to opportunities .
Jason says : “ Collaborating with internal diversity and inclusion leaders helps create programme sponsors who advocate for representation , extending from employees to the supply chain .
“ When granting a tender to a diverse supplier , splitting the award 80 / 20 and partnering them with a larger , established vendor can facilitate the supplier ’ s growth in revenue while gaining
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