Promoting equality through procurement matters.
Procurement is the full range of activities related to purchasing goods, services and works and Eastbourne Homes is a major purchaser of services. We purchase many things so that we can carry out our work and deliver our services and every year we issue contracts worth millions of pounds.
All customers, whatever their background, have a right to expect that the money we spend on contractors to deliver our services suit their needs and are delivered in a way which promotes equality of opportunity and high quality goods and services.
Legislation states that the way in which goods and services are delivered must not have an unequal impact on any particular groups. This extends to the suppliers and subcontractors used by Eastbourne Homes. Which although must not discriminate, do not have the same legal obligation to promote equality of opportunity. Therefore we must ensure race, disability and other equality considerations are built into the procurement & tender process to ensure each function meets equality-related requirements, regardless of who is carrying it out.
We have reviewed Equality and Diversity in Procurement to assist our staff, our suppliers and contractors to follow best practice in equalities in Procurement.
In the past the rules we have used to determine from whom we purchase these services or goods have largely been based on value for money. We recognise however that our spending power gives us the chance to influence how others work too.
Our procurement review looked at the following:
To ensure employees of any company, business or supplier wishing to provide goods or services for Eastbourne Homes undertakes equality and diversity training
To encourage businesses, companies and suppliers to employ and provide training to local people as a means of supporting Eastbourne and improving the employment prospects of people in Eastbourne
The Monitor practices of any contractor, supplier or business we employ, contract or purchase from to ensure they act in accordance with our policies on equality and diversity.
To have a procurement strategy that gives a clear commitment to equality of opportunity and to tackling discrimination and disadvantage
In addition we will be reviewing over the forthcoming year our own policies and practices and where necessary make changes to them to ensure they do not discriminate or place unfair requirements on small businesses from Eastbourne.
