Adhering to the law is the minimum standard expected of suppliers. Suppliers must at all times comply with legislation, and any applicable regulations or industry standards (whichever affords the highest standard) relevant to the goods, services and works provided to Orbis partner authorities, wherever they operate.
This includes but is not limited to those related to:
- anti-bribery
- tax
- corruption
- fraud
- data privacy
- equality, diversity and inclusion
- health and safety
- environment
- modern slavery, labour and human rights
- ethical and responsible business practices
We expect our suppliers and their supply chains to follow three key principles which focus on people, planet and public service.
These principles are underpinned by an overarching expectation for suppliers to conduct their business responsibly, maintaining high standards of integrity and professionalism in their business dealings.
People - respect and uphold labour and human rights
We are committed to promoting awareness of and respect for internationally recognised human rights inherent to all human beings and respecting the principles concerning fundamental rights of workers set out in core labour standards. This includes workers operating within our organisation and supply chains and people that may be impacted by supply chain activities.
We also have a responsibility to ensure that our activities do not cause, contribute, or are linked to adverse human rights impacts such as modern slavery.
Modern slavery is an umbrella term used to describe a range of exploitative practices including slavery, servitude, forced labour or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. These practices sit at the extreme end of a continuum of exploitation ranging from poor and unlawful labour and employment practices to severe forms of exploitation amounting to modern slavery.
The authorities’ approach to this issue includes a commitment to ensuring that people are not subjected to exploitation anywhere in their operations and supply chains. We are committed to conducting due diligence to identify and address risks related to our projects, activities, and relationships.
We are also committed to respecting and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion. Advancing opportunity and fostering good relations are legal duties in all partner authorities’ activities.
The authorities are opposed to any form of discriminatory practices within their operations and supply chains and seek opportunities to increase and promote equality.
Planet - manage environmental impact
Orbis Procurement and our partner authorities recognise that a healthy and properly functioning natural environment is the foundation of a thriving economy, employment stability, prospering communities and personal wellbeing.
The authorities have each declared Climate Emergencies and have committed to improve biodiversity, recover natural capital or enhance the natural environment.
The procurement of goods, works and services has environmental implications in their respective areas and around the planet, as a result, the councils are actively working to reduce and minimise these negative effects where possible.
Our local communities are directly affected by Climate Change, with rural and urban communities facing increased risk of flooding, older people affected by extreme heat and public services coming under greater strain due to natural resource depletion. In many cases our supply chain is also part of that local community, this is therefore a shared challenge that requires a shared solution.
We are committed to ensuring that our supply chain now and in the future minimises the negative impact of delivering the goods, services and works we procure. Furthermore, we seek to ensure that opportunities for positive impacts on the environment are maximised.
This Code supports collaboration and early engagement with the supply chain to find new and innovative ways to tackle this, enabling us to jointly set challenging carbon reduction targets and environmental performance standards, without leaving it too late.
Public service - deliver social value
The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires the councils to consider:
- how what is being proposed to be procured might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area where it exercises its functions; and
- how, in conducting the process of procurement, it might act with a view to securing that improvement
We look to achieve social value from all goods, works and services that we procure. Delivering social value is about embracing a culture of civic leadership and delivering value over and above the core requirements and outcomes outlined in the contract. We understand that working with suppliers is key to delivering social value.
Our communities are diverse and include a wide-ranging demographic, alongside large rural and urban areas, however the partner authorities have developed an understanding of the core needs and priorities that will support healthy, prosperous and sustainable communities.
These form the underlying principles of our approach to Social Value in Orbis Procurement, and we expect suppliers to engage and work with us to ensure the outcomes that can be achieved by delivering targeted Social Value.