Tackling poverty through the Welsh supply chain

Cardiff Business School recently held a full day Public Value workshop, looking at how the Welsh supply chain can help to address one of society’s greatest challenges, poverty.

Financed by Cardiff Business School’s Public Value fund, the event drew more than 50 delegates to Cardiff for a full and interactive agenda on understanding how to leverage social procurement for improved social value. Central to the discussions was a focus on how sourcing goods and services locally could benefit the people of Wales.

Delegates represented organisations from public, private and not-for-profit sectors from across industries such as housing, local authority, emergency services, construction and education.

The interdisciplinary event was organised and led by Dr Jane Lynch, lecturer in Supplier Management for the Logistics and Operations Management (LOM) section. Dr Lynch was supported by colleagues from the Business School including Professor Helen Walker and, representing the Responsible Innovation Network (RIN), Professor Tim Edwards and Professor Luigi De Luca . Alun Jones of WCVA joined Professor Edwards and Professor De Luca, exploring the role of social businesses.

Professor Kevin Morgan, from Cardiff University’s School of Geography and Planning also supported the event, highlighting an IWA Senedd Paper, Good Food for All, which emphasises the importance of making good food more readily available and affordable.

Delegates were welcomed by Professor Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School, who introduced the School’s Public Value proposition and, alongside Rita Singh, from the Office of Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, set the context for the day.

Following the launch of the Well-Being of Future Generations Act (2015), the day’s workshop themes - building resilience; innovation and procurement of innovation; and aligning community benefits with goals and indicators – were designed to spark a new way of thinking and help provoke sustainable and effective change. Delegates were introduced to the notion of responsible innovation in supply chain, delivering benefit to Wales through social procurement and how to build a more resilient nation.

The event drew praise from delegates who cited the clarity it brought to the role and responsibility of procurement and supply practitioners in Wales and the difference they can make.

Read more about Cardiff Business School’s Public Value strategy and its commitment to delivering social improvement alongside economic improvement.