Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is listed on our Ready to Tender checklist as one of the areas your business should have prepared when setting out to tender for work with the public sector.
The public sector wants to work with suppliers that conduct their business in a way that is ethical. When evaluating a tender, they will consider the social, economic and environmental impact made by the applicant, and assess their consideration of human rights.
Why you need a CSR to tender?
In recent years there has been an increased demand from employees, customers and government bodies for suppliers to be more open about their business practices, which has encouraged many to implement a CSR policy.
Your CSR policy may include a range of activities:
- Socially responsible investment (SRI)
- Building relationships with employees and customers
- Eco-friendly/sustainability projects
- Partnership with local communities
It makes commercial sense for businesses to get involved in community-based CSR related to your product or service as it is particularly prized by local authorities as partnership projects benefit their area.
Examples of CSR in procurement
One of the categories in the Government Opportunities (GO) Awards is dedicated to CSR.
The “GO Social and Community Benefit in Procurement Award” recognises the additional value that smart procurement can deliver for individuals and groups across society.
When judging this category for the 2019 Awards, the judges were focused not just on the theory behind the projects but also on the actual, tangible benefits that have been derived from them. In the past, winners have been chosen for their efforts in training and upskilling unemployed individuals and for collaboration with local charities.
Tai Tarian, one of the largest social housing providers in Wales, was a finalist and Highly Commended winner at the UK National GO Awards 2019/20. The judges were impressed by the “Copper Foundation”, an initiative launched by Tai Tarian that aims to upskill 80 individuals who come from workless families to help them to find a route back into long-term sustainable employment.
Ready to Tender Checklist
Have a think about your business’s CSR policy and make sure that you are including details about it within your tender.
Once you have done so, register for free to gain access to our “Ready to Tender Checklist”, which will help you cover all bases when it comes to public sector procurement.