G4S introduces UK-wide initiative to strengthen supply chain diversity

A supplier is considered diverse when 51% or more of the operation is owned and operated by an individual or group that’s part of a traditionally underrepresented or under-served group. These groups include businesses owned by individuals from ethnic minorities, females, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, those with disabilities and also those who are neurodivergent.

Jon Willescroft, procurement director for the G4S international businesses, stated: “At G4S, we are committed to supporting diverse suppliers. The benefits of a diverse supply chain are clear. Our suppliers play a critical role in helping us to run a successful business, delivering excellent service to our customers. Greater diversity of suppliers brings a richness of thought, ideas and innovation. It’s also critical that our business reflects and supports the societies in which we operate, including the often more marginalised and diverse communities.”

Embedded practices

To achieve this desire in the UK, G4S is embedding several practices right across its business.

First and foremost, the company is going to measure its use of diverse suppliers. Through a sustainability technology platform (ie Integrity Next), the business is tracking its spend with diverse suppliers, thereby allowing it to measure and set targets for the future.

The company is also going to identify – and provide opportunities for – new diverse suppliers through partnerships with the likes of Kaleida International and Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK). G4S is also going to invite more diverse suppliers to bid for work.

Importantly, training and awareness is on the agenda. There’s going to be promotion of the benefits of using diverse suppliers among its procurement teams and, indeed, the wider business.

Complete commitment

G4S is wholly committed to making supplier diversity a business priority and, before the end of this year, will host updates for business leaders on the supplier diversity programme, deliver training to the procurement team on supplier diversity and partnerships with Kaleida and MSDUK and also set out its three-year supplier diversity and inclusion objectives.

In addition, from 2023, G4S will expand its supplier diversity programme beyond the UK and into other key markets.

As stated, G4S has partnered with Kaleida International and MSDUK to support the ongoing roll-out and embedding of supplier diversity and inclusion in its business:

Kaleida International

In September this year, G4S joined Kaleida’s growing list of large employers supporting supplier diversity.

Kaleida International is the UK and EMEA’s first fully-inclusive B2B marketplace for tenders connecting buyers to diverse suppliers. Finding diverse suppliers in the region is time-consuming as the process involves researching multiple databases. The Kaleida platform, which is a rich source of supplier diversity data, improves the accessibility of diverse suppliers to corporate buyers with an Environmental, Social and Governance mandate.

G4S is committed to promoting a broader representation of diverse suppliers in its supply chain. Kaleida’s platform will help enable this and ensure that future opportunities are more accessible to diverse businesses across the UK.

Jason Roberts, CEO of Kaleida International, commented: “We are excited to partner with G4S and make revenue generating opportunities accessible to marginalised communities across the UK and Europe. Diverse suppliers are asking for more access to economic equity in order to help grow their businesses. Diversity programmes like this one launched by G4S will help diverse suppliers overcome the economic hurdles often experienced by historically underused founders.”

Jon Willescroft responded: “This partnership will be key in helping us to access, connect and work with a wide range of diverse suppliers, creating greater breadth and better representation across our supply chain.”

Suppliers can register their diverse business with Kaleida by visiting the website at www.kaleida.co

MSDUK

Also in September this year, G4S agreed a partnership with MSDUK, the nation’s leading non-profit membership organisation driving inclusive procurement.

MSDUK is a leading advocacy organisation that connects ethnic minority-owned businesses across the UK and is now expanding into Europe. The business partners with over 100 global organisations like G4S to innovatively break through inequalities and barriers in public and private sector supply chains alike.

Through this new partnership, G4S will seek to promote and provide opportunities to businesses with ethnic minority owners as part of its wider commitment to being an ethical and sustainable organisation. In short, doing business ‘the right way’.

The new arrangements will enable G4S to:

*have regular engagement with MSDUK’s dedicated relationship manager to support the progress of its supplier diversity journey 

*access peer engagement sessions with other corporates in MSDUK’s network to learn industry Best Practices and share knowledge on supplier diversity with each other

*gain better access to certified ethnic minority businesses through shared database and hosted supplier events

Mayank Shah, founder and CEO of MSDUK, stated: “We are delighted to add G4S to our list of over 110 public and private sector organisations who support ethnic minority businesses in the UK, connecting them with over 100 British and global companies. MSDUK facilitates inclusive supply chains that work with under-represented entrepreneurs to help drive socio-economic growth. The UK harbours some of the most talented and innovative ethnic minority businesses in the world. Working in tandem with G4S, we at MSDUK would like to help these businesses grow.”

Jon Willescroft added: “We are excited to work with MSDUK and, through our partnership, we will seek to establish a broader representation of ethnic minority-owned businesses within our supply chain.”

*Further information is available via e-mail at: esg@g4s.com