Customers and Suppliers

We continue to actively develop mutually beneficial relationships with all those with whom we do business. We regularly review our business processes with a view to improving quality and productivity, thereby enhancing our ability to create value, whilst at the same time working to achieve the aspirations of sustainable development. In support of this, all areas of the business are encouraged to innovate and share knowledge in the pursuit of a continual drive for excellence.

 What we said in 2007


    • We will work more closely with our customers to continually develop relationships based on best value and partnering
    • We will deploy a Procurement Policy, with appropriate controls to ensure we have a unified approach to our supply chain
    • We will develop relationships with supply chain partners to use more environmentally friendly materials and methods of working
    • We will use a new framework document to formalise agreements with key supply chain partners

 What we did in 2008


    • We developed our relationships with key customers throughout 2008 and customer satisfaction levels increased to 79%
    • We deployed a Procurement Policy in February 2008 which set out expectations for improving sustainability in procurement
    • We established a Sustainable Procurement Group which was tasked with improving the environmental performance of our supply chain
    • We have introduced a new framework document and six of our strategic supply chain partners have signed up to it

 What we are doing in 2009


    • Continue to be adaptive and innovative in the development of the service solutions we provide to create sustainable value for our customers
    • Ensure that all forms of procured products and services are subject to the same high level of performance assessment, measurement and review that our material suppliers are subject to
    • Continue to formalise agreements with key supply chain partners using our key framework document
    • Work in partnership with the South East Centre for the Built Environment (SECBE) to ensure that all of our key suppliers have attained, or are working towards, environmental accreditation

 

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