Improving transparency through collaboration

Part of our 7 in 7 series – where we ask senior business executives seven timely questions in seven minutes. The below Q&A is part of the knowledge exchange in the build up to the 11th Annual Sustainable Supply Chain Summit

Ethical Corporation: What’s your current role and what are your responsibilities?

Dale Turner: I am Director of Procurement and Supply Chain Skanska’s UK business. In the UK, we spend more than £1bn per year with the supply chain. I am responsible for coordinating procurement activities to leverage our combined spend, relationships and expertise.

EC: In our State of Sustainable Supply Chains Report 2016, industry collaboration has been highlighted as the biggest opportunity in the coming 12 months. How is Skanska approaching collaboration? What key determiners do you look for?

DT: Skanska has two approaches to collaboration with the supply chain. We have a structured relationship management and development programme which includes introducing BS11000 aimed at making Skanska the contractor of choice for our supply chain.

In the wider industry we are collaborating with the top 20 other main contractors to lead and support the award winning Supply Chain Sustainability School, a virtual learning environment that aims to help construction suppliers and sub-contractors to develop their sustainability knowledge and competence (www.supplychainschool.co.uk).

We look for partners who share the same commitment around developing an industry rather than individual gain. As a construction industry we have bold targets to deliver its 2025 objectives - 33% Lower costs, 50% faster, 50% lower emissions. We can only do this through collaboration.

EC: Do you have examples of a successful and a not so successful collaboration, and importantly, what you learnt from both?

DT: A success would have to be the Supply Chain Sustainability School. We now have a collaborative commitment from 45 of the UK’s top clients, construction contractors, FM service providers and supply chain making us all better able to address the sustainability challenges our industry faces. We now have over 14,000 members.

As an industry we need to do more on removing duplication of pre-qualification for the supply chain. We haven’t quite got everybody pointing in the right direction and is work in progress.

In both instances the relative power of collaboration has had an impact on the speed of change. We have come a long way with the Supply Chain Sustainability School since its inception in 2012.

EC: The Modern Slavery Act came in to effect earlier this year. What work have you done to mitigate this risk and what has been your biggest challenge?

DT: As with most companies we have created our own modern slavery policy and procedure. We have taken another look at where our risks lie in our supply chain and added to our existing due diligence procedures to create more visibility and transparency further down the tiers of our supply chain. We are actively challenging our supply chain to make sure they understand the risks in their supply chain and can prove they have relevant checks in place.

EC: What do you see as the biggest opportunity for Skanska in 2017?

DT: We have a massive opportunity with a good secured workload to work closer with our supply chain to unlock new innovation and aid our operational efficiency. The result will be delivering better customers and client solutions. It’s exciting times!

EC: What do you see as being the big issues to watch for in 2017?

DT: We are still to see the fallout of Brexit and the likely knock on effect of supply chain prices. I am upbeat and represents as much of an opportunity as a challenge.

EC: And finally, what are you most looking forward to at this year’s Sustainable Supply Chain Summit?

DT: I am looking to learn something from all the sessions, but the most apt is improving transparency through collaboration.

                

Dale is speaking on a session that looks at sustainability from the procurement team’s view. Joining Dale at the event are 20+ other expert speakers from the likes of; Primark, Cisco, Ericsson, AstraZeneca, Interface to name a few. Click here for more information about the event



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