UMi and Manchester Airport Group host exclusive event to accelerate sustainable procurement
‘Accelerating Sustainable Procurement’ was an exclusive gathering aimed at bringing together Manchester Airport Group’s (MAG) suppliers to share insights, challenges, experiences, and best practices in sustainable procurement.
Taking place on the 26th June at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, the event was designed to foster collaboration and drive positive environmental and social impact across the supply chain.
UMi CEO, Nicki Clark, chaired the event, and with her strong background in championing businesses that aim to support people and the planet alongside its commercial goals, Nicki was perfectly positioned to drive the conversation.
Nicki shared her thoughts, saying: “At this event I’ve experienced a level of honesty, humility and open mindedness that is quite rare, and everyone who attended should be proud of that. Through their energy and commitment, these attendees are making a real difference which is not only delivering tremendous value to individual businesses but is also creating a huge amount of hope that we can get to a sustainable future”.
Throughout the day, attendees delved into thought-provoking presentations from MAG suppliers, including Galliford Try, Lyreco, Drax, HSS, and DHL. Presentations covered a range of topics, such as setting sustainability goals, transforming internal procurement processes, and overcoming challenges to achieve notable milestones.
Interactive roundtable discussions were also on the agenda, focusing on areas such as Business Services, Capital Delivery, Utilities & Sustainability, Assets and Maintenance, and Airport Services. These collaborative sessions allowed participants to exchange ideas and develop actionable strategies.
Kris Barnett, Strategic Partnership Manager at Drax shared his enthusiasm, saying: “We often get stuck in our own silos, but events like this are so important to get us talking to each other. We’ve been able to have some very honest and intimate conversations, and we’ve realised that as suppliers we have a lot of the same challenges, but different solutions that we can work together on.”
As well as hearing from their industry peers, attendees heard directly from MAG who discussed their own transformative sustainability journey, exploring how the organisation is integrating eco-friendly practices into procurement processes and are making it easier for suppliers to collaborate with them.
Adam Freeman, Decarbonisation and ESG Director of Manchester Airport Group said: “The event has been brilliant; it’s been very interesting to hear stories from key suppliers which has inspired ideas to bring home and reflect on to implement as part of our strategy going forward. To listen to the great ideas that exist in our supply chain has been a wonderful experience and has shown that by working together we can achieve our collective sustainability goals.
This event provided a unique opportunity for delegates to engage with MAG's procurement team, key stakeholders, and industry experts. Attendees benefitted from invaluable insights, forging meaningful connections, and exploring how to align their practices with sustainability objectives. This proactive approach of bringing together suppliers invites them to be part of the change, striving for significant progress towards a more sustainable future.