Responsible Procurement is one of APUC’s core workstreams and is embedded across the full procurement journey, from early market engagement through to contract management.

Our approach to Responsible Procurement reflects Scotland’s legislative framework, including the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, and the wider policy context around sustainability, fair work and community benefits. We focus on achieving value for money on a whole‑life basis while delivering positive social, ethical, environmental and economic outcomes for our members and the communities they serve.

Responsible Procurement at APUC covers:

• Social, ethical and environmental considerations, including human rights and workers’ rights
• Climate action, circular economy and biodiversity considerations within supply chains
• Fair Work Practices, equality, diversity and inclusion, and community benefits
• Compliance, transparency and continuous improvement across collaborative contracts

These principles are embedded within APUC’s collaborative and strategic sourcing activity and are supported by specialist staff, tools, guidance and sector-wide collaboration.

Modern Slavery Statement

 

Although APUC’s own annual turnover falls below the required threshold of £36m for commercial organisations to publish a statement under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and specifically to section 54 (1), APUC believes that given our client institutions’ overall spend through its supply agreements and its vision to be a leader in driving forward the sustainable procurement agenda, that it has a responsibility to set out the steps it is taking to eradicate modern slavery from its supply chains.

APUCs Modern Slavery Statement aims to inform member institutions, staff and the general public about APUC’s policy with respect to Modern Slavery, and the actions taken to identify and prevent such practises from taking place in any of its supply chains and in any part of its own business.

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Responsible Procurement Policy

The Responsible Procurement Policy details APUC’s commitment to responsible procurement and embedding its principles into everything we do. It outlines the vision, scope and principles of the policy as well as detailing how these will be maintained and monitored. The policy is linked to APUCs Operational Procurement Strategy and Action Plan.

It is also aligned with the Scottish University and College Sectors Supply Chain Climate & Ecological Emergency Strategy (2022 to 2030) and as well as wider Scottish public sector and UK Higher and Further Education sustainability such as Fair Work First and Net Zero.

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University and College Sector Supply Chain Climate and Ecologogical Emergency Strategy (SCCEES)

The Scottish University and College sectors are committed to carrying out all of their operations in an environmentally, socially, ethically and economically responsible manner. This commitment extends to their procurement and supply chain management, which is a vital part of sector activity.

In relation to climate change, the supply chain is seen as a key focus for early attention across all institutions to significantly reduce GHG emissions from our needs for goods and services, wherever these emissions are generated in the supply chain. Further to this, a shared Supply Chain Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy has now been agreed by the Principals’ groups of both the University and College sectors in Scotland.

APUC will over the coming months and years, be providing a number of supporting tools and services to assist its member institutions in the implementation of this strategy.

The strategy can be accessed below (an executive summary version will be published shortly)

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