Responsible Procurement Policy

Procurement decisions are based on relevant and supportable criteria. Conflicts are disclosed, bribery and collusion are prohibited, and material decisions are recorded proportionately.

The responsible business considers:

1. capability, competence and capacity;
2. insurance, licences and required permissions;
3. health, safety and environmental performance;
4. quality and service history;
5. information security and data protection;
6. ethical labour and modern-slavery risk;
7. financial and operational resilience;
8. environmental and social value; and
9. cost and whole-life value.

Participating Businesses seek to make opportunities accessible to capable local and smaller suppliers where this is compatible with safety, quality, value and customer requirements.

Requirements are communicated before appointment. Higher-risk suppliers are subject to enhanced evidence, contractual controls and monitoring. Poor performance is addressed through corrective action and, where necessary, restriction, suspension or termination.

Need, specification, budget and authority are established before commitment. Requirements should be outcome-based, proportionate and open to suitable SMEs and local or social-value providers where this does not compromise safety, quality, value or lawful competition. Conflicts are declared and sourcing decisions are documented to a level proportionate to value and risk.

Due diligence may cover legal identity, ownership, financial resilience, insurance, competence, licences, health and safety, environmental controls, information security, sanctions, adverse findings, modern-slavery exposure and use of subcontractors. The depth of review reflects country, category, labour, data, site, technical and continuity risk. Approval is not permanent: material changes and expiry evidence trigger reassessment.

Contracts define scope, standards, price, change control, confidentiality, data protection, audit or evidence rights, incident notification, business continuity, intellectual property, insurance where justified, subcontracting and termination. Relevant obligations flow down the chain. Purchase orders do not replace required technical and safety information.

Performance review considers delivery, defects, incidents, complaints, ethical concerns, responsiveness, documentation and improvement. Suppliers are given a fair opportunity to correct remediable issues, but immediate restriction or termination may be used for serious safety, integrity, exploitation, sanctions, security or legal risk.

Approved by David Swaddle, Founder, on 30 August 2026.