The new procurement policy relates to all WSP’s suppliers, including contractors and consultants.
WSP head of procurement Ineke Brockie says WSP makes extensive use of suppliers nationally – including for client project delivery support and corporate business. Having more diversity in the WSP supply chain will benefit Aotearoa and client project outcomes.
"We have a responsibility to use our purchasing power in a way that benefits society and the environment. We're proud to be implementing procurement policies that better consider supplier diversity and sustainability.”
With forty offices and locations across the country, WSP is well positioned to make a difference.
“The aim is for us to help create more business opportunities for groups we’ve not traditionally focussed on working with. In this way we can help address social or environmental challenges though more purposeful and impactful procurement. We’re well underway with the roadmap to achieve our aspiration,” says Ineke.
“A strong focus of our five percent target is to boost the number of procurement opportunities available to Māori and Pasifika businesses, with a secondary focus on other minority groups and social enterprises.
“We’ll be working closely with supplier diversity organisations such as Amotai, Aotearoa's supplier diversity intermediary tasked with connecting verified Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses with buyers wanting to purchase goods, services and works.”
This move is an important part of WSP’s ESG strategic focus. As a diversity advocate, WSP is proud to be working towards this procurement aspiration to help raise up and empower the diversity of our communities.