Procurement and supply chain professionals, the unsung heroes behind the scenes ensuring your seasonal coffee is topped with toffee-nut or peppermint sprinkles, your favourite trainers hit the shelves, and your latest tech gadget magically appears at your doorstep all in time for Christmas. In the UK, this intricate dance of sourcing, buying, and logistics is guided by the CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) code of conduct and ethics.
Imagine this: a secret society of ethical buyers and supply chain wizards, donning capes made of sustainable materials, and armed with the power of transparency and fair practices. Okay, maybe no capes, but the CIPS code of conduct is the compass steering these professionals toward ethical sourcing, fair treatment, and environmental responsibility.
This code isn’t just about words that pay lip-service—it’s the cornerstone of how procurement and supply chain decisions are made. Think fair wages for suppliers, sustainable sourcing practices, and a dedication to cutting-edge ethical guidelines.
Incoming: The Procurement Act. This shiny new legislation aims to level up the procurement game by emphasizing social value, sustainability, and innovation. Giving procurement professionals (and end users) the power to tackle societal challenges through better procurement practices.
How will the Procurement Act impact your day to day work? Perhaps with a shift towards more local suppliers, boosting small businesses while reducing carbon footprints. There might be a surge in innovative solutions as the act encourages out-of-the-box thinking to address societal needs. Plus, a stronger focus on social value means procurement pros might become the champions of community development projects.
Of course, with any new regulation, there’s a learning curve. Procurement professionals might need to update their skills, attending training sessions and workshops to adapt to the changes.
In the end, we should see better products and services that align with our values. It means feeling a bit better about that online shopping spree knowing it’s not harming the planet or exploiting workers halfway across the globe…although we might need to be a bit more organised with our Christmas shopping and not leave it to the last minute.