Project News: Facilitating Supplier Diversity

Facilitating Supplier Diversity: A Collaborative Approach to Engaging Underrepresented Suppliers and Large Firms

This year long project, commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council, is nearing completion. Working together on this are Prof Monder Ram, Dr Nick Theodorakopoulos and Dr Olga Tregaskis in collaboration with Supplier Diversity Europe (SDE).

The focus of this project is trifold:

Knowledge transfer. CREME and SDE are sharing material that will support the implementation of supplier diversity in SDE members’ companies. The intention is to share the accumulated and synergistic expertise at special events for SDE members. Importantly, these experiences will help to shape broader policy debates in the UK and other European countries.

People transfer. CREME recruited two specialists who are ‘placed’ with SDE. One of these ‘placement fellows’ works with an SDE member to create a ‘Hub’, which is drawing together suppliers at different points in the supply chain. The other expert assists in the production of a ‘Handbook’ that will have resonance in a number of European countries.

Developing the business case for Supplier Diversity. CREME’s action research methodology will be used to develop an informed approach to supplier diversity in practice. This will be distinctly European in orientation.

A brief summary of this project's outcomes will be added here in July.