Tag Archives: small businesses

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

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The Importance of Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Yorkshire

Yorkshire, in all its glory

There has been a growing focus on the importance of sustainable supply chain management, which may have been treated by some firms as a passing fad or a token gesture towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This is likely due to the increasing awareness of the environmental and social impacts of business, the rising demand for sustainable products and services from customers, and the increasing internal pressure on businesses to reduce their costs.

Sustainable supply chain management is the process of managing a supply chain in a way that minimizes its environmental and social impacts – whilst still achieving good value for money for stakeholders. There is no singular path to achieve this, and it can be done by using sustainably sourced materials, reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, as well as ensuring fair labour practices.

There are a number of benefits to implementing sustainable supply chain management. These include:

  • Reduced environmental impact: Both locally and in the broader environment.  Sustainable supply chain management can help to reduce the environmental impact of a business by reducing its use of resources, emissions, and waste.
  • Improved social impact: Sustainable supply chain management can help to improve the social impact of a business by ensuring fair labour practices, higher standards of welfare for staff and supporting local communities.
  • Reduced costs: Sustainable supply chain management can help to reduce costs by reducing waste, improving efficiency, and increasing productivity.
  • Improved reputation: Businesses that implement sustainable supply chain management can improve their reputation with paying customers, investors, and the wider community.

Higher education institutions play a role in promoting sustainable supply chain management by providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to work in this field. They can also do this by working with their own suppliers and business partners to develop sustainable supply chain management practices.

The British economy will benefit from this joined up approach in number of ways. These include:

  • Increased productivity: Sustainable supply chain management can help to increase productivity by reducing waste, improving efficiency, and increasing innovation.
  • Improved competitiveness: Sustainable supply chain management can help businesses to become more competitive by reducing their costs and improving their efficiency.
  • Increased innovation: Sustainable supply chain management helps businesses to innovate by developing new ways to reduce their negative environmental impact whilst also improving their positive social impact.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can play a huge role in this by developing new technologies that help them to reduce their environmental impact and improve their social impact. Due to their flatter and less hierarchical structures, they are often the first to respond to changes in the trading environment.  They can also do this by working with larger businesses to implement sustainable supply chain management solutions.

There are opportunities for small innovative businesses to actively get involved in sustainable supply chain management. These can include:

  • Focusing research into new technologies and solutions that help businesses to reduce their environmental impact and improve their social impact.
  • Providing training and education on sustainable supply chain management.
  • Advocating for sustainable supply chain management policies and regulations in business forums and trade lobbying groups.

By working together, higher education institutions, large established businesses, and small innovative businesses can help to drive forward looking supply chain management and ensure a thriving and sustainable future.

Going Local

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A small, local shop

A small, local shop

Universities are the engine of the knowledge economy and the wider business community for many regions within the United Kingdom.  In particular, university procurement teams are ideally placed to develop deep and strategic relationships with small businesses in order to support the local economy. Here are three reasons why:

1. Small businesses are often the lifeblood of local economies. They create jobs, generate tax revenue, and support other businesses in the community. By working with small businesses, university procurement teams can help to ensure that the local economy remains strong and vibrant.

2. Small businesses often have a strong commitment to quality and innovation. They are often more nimble and innovative than larger businesses, and they are often willing to take risks on new products and services. They have to move faster and be quicker to market, in order to outpace their larger and better resourced competitors.  By working with small businesses, university procurement teams can help to acquire new and innovative products and services.

3. Small businesses often have a strong commitment to sustainability. They are often more aware of the environmental and social impact of their products and services, and they can be willing to make changes to their operations to reduce their environmental footprint. Smaller firms are less rigid in their ways of working.  By partnering with small businesses, university procurement teams can help to reduce the overall environmental impact of the university’s operations.

There are a number of ways that university procurement teams can develop those relationships with small businesses. One way is to attend local small business events, such as trade shows and conferences. Another way is to network with small business owners online or through social media – they’re not afraid of going digital! Finally, university procurement teams can work with small business development centres in their community to identify and connect with small businesses – they may even be in a position to house these enterprise hub within their campuses.

Here are a few additional tips for university procurement teams that are looking to develop relationships with small businesses:

Be clear about your needs.

When you are talking to small businesses, be absolutely clear about what you are looking for. A well structured specification will help them to understand whether they can meet your needs and how they can work with you.

Be flexible.

Small businesses are often more flexible than larger businesses. They may be willing to work with you on pricing, delivery, or other terms – but similarly, if you can’t be flexible for them, then you can become a difficult customer to service.

Be patient.

It takes time to build relationships with small businesses. Don’t expect to have a successful relationship with local businesses overnight, now can every need be satisfied. Be patient and persistent, and you will eventually see results.