This article forms part of our "Spotlights: Impacts in action" series looking at the impact our responsible business framework is having on clients, colleagues, communities and governance.
Article last updated 3 April 2026.
During 2025, we worked closely with our Supplier and Procurement team and our People team to strengthen how we assess and manage responsible business risks across our supply chain.
Together, we reviewed and refreshed our supplier questionnaire to ensure it captures the most relevant environmental, social and governance considerations. This included improving questions on areas such as labour standards, human rights, diversity and inclusion, data protection, environmental practices and business ethics. The review aimed to ensure that our expectations of suppliers are clear, proportionate and aligned with our own responsible business priorities.
In line with our focus on inclusion, the updated supplier questionnaire includes a reminder that we are a Disability Confident employer. This means we’ve committed to inclusive practices not only in our workforce but also in how we work with suppliers, including those led by or employing people with disabilities.
As part of this work we also drafted a new Supplier Code of Conduct. The Code sets out the minimum standards we expect from suppliers in areas including ethical behaviour, compliance with laws and regulations, fair working practices, respect for human rights, environmental responsibility and information security. It provides a consistent framework for how we work with suppliers and reflects our values and long‑term approach to responsible business.
The revised questionnaire, together with the Supplier Code of Conduct, were shared with a sample of suppliers. The sample was selected using a defined methodology that considered factors such as spend, sector, criticality of service and potential risk exposure. This approach allowed us to test the updated materials while focusing on suppliers most relevant to our operations.
Responses received will be reviewed and the insights gained will help inform our supplier engagement activity in 2026, including targeted conversations, follow‑up actions and, where appropriate, additional guidance or support. This work represents an important step in strengthening responsible business practices across our supply chain and supporting continuous improvement through partnership and dialogue.
