Last Thursday, the Nestlé Supplier Awards took place for the first time since pre-Covid, which means we had four years of excellence to celebrate! It offered us the chance to recognise the incredible contribution our suppliers make in creating some of the nation’s favourite products.
The awards recognised suppliers of all sizes and from all backgrounds. One category that really celebrated this was the D&I Force for Good Award which recognised those from underrepresented backgrounds as well as those who play an active role in promoting and fostering DE&I.
For smaller suppliers, particularly those from minority backgrounds, sometimes it can be hard to work with large businesses, but this is where we are determined to expand opportunities for innovative, talented businesses. We believe that it can, and should, be our role to coach and mentor business leaders and provide them with the knowledge they need to thrive.
Increasing accessibility
In 2021, Nestlé launched its Supplier Diversity Programme, which has seen us collaborate with a range of groups and businesses to drive positive change.
This includes Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK), which champions British Ethnic Minority Businesses in the supply chain, and WeConnect, which empowers women business owners. We are also proud to be working with Out Britain, which support the growth of the LGBTQ+ business community, and Social Enterprise UK, which leads the network of businesses with a social purpose.
These collaborations are a cornerstone of our commitment to D&I at Nestlé, but we’re always growing the number of ways we’re engaging with businesses from a diverse range of backgrounds.
We are making the process more accessible to these diverse businesses, as it should be.
Promoting innovation
The benefits of these collaborations are two-fold. By embracing diverse suppliers, we bring in a wide range of perspectives from different demographics that can introduce new ways of thinking. This means that we can best deliver for all our customers and consumers. We can reach different communities, change values and beliefs and ultimately have more societal impact.
The positive impact has been recognised throughout the business and I’m now being approached by colleagues across different teams to help them build a more diverse supplier base.
The commitment to D&I at Nestlé is particularly important to me as I have seen my parents’ struggles and known the barriers they faced when setting up a life in a different country. Although we live in a different age now, we still have a way to go to ensure that no one is restricted or excluded from business based on what they look like, who they love or where they come from. I believe the right thing to do is to be inclusive and we have the chance at Nestlé to make a genuine difference.
We want to make a difference at every opportunity we get. Which is why, on the awards night, we worked with a diverse range of suppliers to help us deliver an excellent event. Catering was provided by The Clink Charity, who work on the culinary training and rehabilitation of people in prison, while refreshments were supplied by Toast, the beer brand that donates all its profits to charities protecting the natural world we know. The trophies themselves were made by The Workshop Aberfeldy, a group that teaches disadvantaged young people carpentry skills. Finally, the audio visual was handled by Connection Crew, they are a multi award winning crewing company and social enterprise supporting people affected by homelessness by providing training, mentoring and employment opportunities.
Overall, it was an amazing event celebrating the incredible work that goes on in our supply chain and I am especially proud that the D&I Force for Good award was included. At Nestlé, we want to be driving change by supporting diversity in our supplier base and will continue to champion businesses and their people from all backgrounds.