Suppliers
We work with an extensive network of suppliers, contractors, and partners to provide our services.
Our supply chains include:
- Construction and infrastructure projects.
- Facilities management and maintenance.
- Procurement of goods such as IT equipment, uniforms, and office supplies.
- Social care services.
In 2024 to 2025, the Council transacted with 3,917 suppliers, including 3,411 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). We are committed to working only with suppliers and partners who share our values and adhere to ethical labour practices. We acknowledge that our extensive supply chain presents potential risks for modern slavery.
3.1 Our Ethical Procurement Process and Supply Chains
Coventry City Council’s procurement activity is governed by its Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs), which are part of the Council’s Constitution. In effect the CPRs are instructions to Council Officers & Councillors on how to execute contracts for the provision of goods, services or works on behalf of the Council, in a compliant, transparent, and ethical manner.
The Council is also subject to a legislative framework that is both significant and complex. The UK’s exit from the European Union led to the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 and Statutory Instruments, forms of secondary legislation. The Act and supplementary Regulations came into force on 24 February 2025 and detail how public procurement must be undertaken.
The Council is also subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, introduced by the Health Care Act 2022 for the procurement of in-scope health care services and public health services in England.
Furthermore, for contracts entered into prior to the commencement of the Procurement Act 2023, the Council is also subject to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 in relation to the management of contracts for goods, services and associated works, and the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 in relation to the management of concession contracts. It is acknowledged that the Council will be managing contracts across multiple sets of regulations for a number of years.
In addition to complying with the procurement governance outlined above, the Council ensures compliance to other applicable legislation and Council policies including but not limited to its Employee Code of Conduct and Social Value & Sustainability Policy.
The Council operates a mostly centralised Procurement Service with most of the contract management being carried out within service areas. Coventry City Council has continued to collaborate with Warwickshire County Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, and other regional Authorities which provides more procurement power to help to address Modern Slavery within the Supply Chains.
The Council’s supply chains are varied and include Sole Traders, SMEs and large multi-national corporations. We recognise that modern slavery and human trafficking can occur anywhere in the supply chain both in the UK and internationally, and regardless of the supplier size or nature of the products or services being purchased.
Coventry City Council is committed to operating responsibly and with high ethical standards and will not tolerate human trafficking and other forms of slavery within our operations. We expect equally high standards from our supply chains.
Coventry City Council will look to understand all potential Modern Slavery risks relating to the procurement activities it undertakes or participates in and agrees to put in place steps to deter and eliminate any Modern Slavery practices within its supply chains.
In addition to adopting the Co-operative Party Charter Against Modern Slavery, the Council’s Procurement & Commissioning team implement a process as summarised below for procurements above the value of £100k, to ensure high ethical standards from its supply chains:
Pre-tender stage:
- a risk-based assessments will be carried out to determine whether the procurement is a ‘Low’, ‘Medium’ or ‘High’ risk with regards to possible Modern Slavery in the supply chain. In turn this will help to mitigate and manage any market risks concerning slavery and human trafficking. This includes identifying industries and market sectors where risks of modern slavery are higher/more prevalent, and target these as higher risks for concern
Selection and/or Tender stage:
- the Council’s competitive tender procedure includes mandatory exclusion selection criteria, regarding the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (“the Act”) - Section 54 Transparency in supply chain etc.
- the Council will challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure the Council does not contract with a Supplier practising modern slavery
- for ‘medium’ and ‘high’ modern slavery risk procurements, Tenderers will be required to confirm they will complete and share with Coventry City Council, the results of the Cabinet Office’s Modern Slavery Assessment Tool, post contract award
Contract Management stage:
- Contract Management will be carried out to:
- ensure compliance with the Council's adopted terms and conditions with regards to Modern Slavery
- for ‘medium’ and ‘high’ modern slavery risk procurements, ensure the supplier completes and shares with Coventry City Council, the Cabinet Office’s Modern Slavery Assessment Tool
- address any identified potential Modern Slavery incidents
Officers should refer to PPN 009: Guidance on tackling modern slavery for further guidance.
