Addressing Safeguarding Risks for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Procurement

Addressing safeguarding risks for LGBTQ+ individuals in procurement involves recognising the unique vulnerabilities they may face and implementing measures to mitigate these risks. Here are several key areas to consider:

Discrimination and Harrassment

Confidentiality and Privacy

Risk: LGBTQ+ individuals may face discrimination or harassment from suppliers, contractors, or even within the procurement team.

Mitigation: Ensure non-discrimination policies are in place and enforced throughout the procurement process. Include anti-discrimination clauses in contracts and provide training on LGBTQ+ sensitivity and inclusivity.

Risk: Inadequate handling of personal data can lead to the outing of LGBTQ+ individuals, exposing them to potential harm.

Mitigation: Implement strict data protection measures to safeguard personal information. Limit the collection of sensitive data and ensure it is stored securely.

Supplier Diversity

Inclusive Procurement Practices

Risk: A lack of diverse suppliers can perpetuate environments that are not inclusive or safe for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Mitigation: Promote and prioritize working with suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Develop supplier diversity programs to encourage LGBTQ+ owned businesses.

Risk: Procurement processes may inadvertently exclude LGBTQ+ individuals or businesses, leading to inequitable opportunities.

Mitigation: Review and adjust procurement policies to ensure they are inclusive. Remove any biased criteria that could disadvantage LGBTQ+ suppliers or employees.

Cultural Competency

Monitoring and Reporting

Risk: Lack of understanding and awareness about LGBTQ+ issues among procurement staff and suppliers can result in unintentional discrimination or exclusion.

Mitigation: Provide regular training and education on LGBTQ+ issues and cultural competency. Foster an inclusive organisational culture that values diversity.

Risk: Without proper oversight, discriminatory practices can go unnoticed and unaddressed.

Mitigation: Establish monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track compliance with non-discrimination policies. Encourage reporting of any incidents of discrimination or harassment and ensure there are clear procedures for addressing them.

Supportive Environment

Legal Compliance

Risk: LGBTQ+ individuals may feel isolated or unsupported within the procurement process.

Mitigation: Create a supportive environment by establishing LGBTQ+ networks or support groups within the organisation. Promote an open and inclusive workplace where all individuals feel valued.

Risk: Non-compliance with local and international laws protecting LGBTQ+ rights can lead to legal repercussions and reputational damage.

Mitigation: Stay informed about relevant laws and regulations regarding LGBTQ+ rights in all regions where procurement activities take place. Ensure all contracts and practices comply with these laws.

Why address these risks?

By addressing these safeguarding risks, organisations can create a procurement process that is not only fair and equitable but also supportive and inclusive of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Camden Council has announced it will begin checking the LGBTQ+ credentials of businesses when issuing contracts. Click below to find out more.

Camden Council Article

CIPS is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) in procurement. They have partnered with Vodafone to discuss LGBT+ and ED&I in the profession.

Find out more

Takeaway discussions:

Revision Tips and Tricks
  • How do you safeguard LGBTQ+ individuals in your procurement processes?
  • Where do you identify Fundamental British Values within these articles?

Discrimination and Harrassment

Risk: LGBTQ+ individuals may face discrimination or harassment from suppliers, contractors, or even within the procurement team.

Mitigation: Ensure non-discrimination policies are in place and enforced throughout the procurement process. Include anti-discrimination clauses in contracts and provide training on LGBTQ+ sensitivity and inclusivity.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Risk: Inadequate handling of personal data can lead to the outing of LGBTQ+ individuals, exposing them to potential harm.

Mitigation: Implement strict data protection measures to safeguard personal information. Limit the collection of sensitive data and ensure it is stored securely.

Supplier Diversity

Risk: A lack of diverse suppliers can perpetuate environments that are not inclusive or safe for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Mitigation: Promote and prioritize working with suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Develop supplier diversity programs to encourage LGBTQ+ owned businesses.

Inclusive Procurement Practices

Risk: Procurement processes may inadvertently exclude LGBTQ+ individuals or businesses, leading to inequitable opportunities.

Mitigation: Review and adjust procurement policies to ensure they are inclusive. Remove any biased criteria that could disadvantage LGBTQ+ suppliers or employees.

Cultural Competency

Risk: Lack of understanding and awareness about LGBTQ+ issues among procurement staff and suppliers can result in unintentional discrimination or exclusion.

Mitigation: Provide regular training and education on LGBTQ+ issues and cultural competency. Foster an inclusive organisational culture that values diversity.

Monitoring and Reporting

Risk: Without proper oversight, discriminatory practices can go unnoticed and unaddressed.

Mitigation: Establish monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track compliance with non-discrimination policies. Encourage reporting of any incidents of discrimination or harassment and ensure there are clear procedures for addressing them.

Supportive Environment

Risk: LGBTQ+ individuals may feel isolated or unsupported within the procurement process.

Mitigation: Create a supportive environment by establishing LGBTQ+ networks or support groups within the organisation. Promote an open and inclusive workplace where all individuals feel valued.

Legal Compliance

Risk: Non-compliance with local and international laws protecting LGBTQ+ rights can lead to legal repercussions and reputational damage.

Mitigation: Stay informed about relevant laws and regulations regarding LGBTQ+ rights in all regions where procurement activities take place. Ensure all contracts and practices comply with these laws.

By addressing these safeguarding risks, organisations can create a procurement process that is not only fair and equitable but also supportive and inclusive of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Camden Council's LGBTQ+ supplier check

Camden Council has announced it will begin checking the LGBTQ+ credentials of businesses when issuing contracts. Click here to find out more.

CIPS and Vodafone unite to discuss LGBTQ+

CIPS is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) in procurement. They have partnered with Vodafone to discuss LGBT+ and ED&I in the profession. Find out more here.

Takeaway discussions...

Revision Tips and Tricks
  • How do you safeguard LGBTQ+ individuals in your procurement processes?
  • Where do you identify Fundamental British Values within these articles?

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Addressing Safeguarding Risks for LGBTQ+ Individuals in Procurement
2024-07-02T10:17:34+00:00
Declan Hemingway
Bethanie Stimpson SRSCC

Bethanie Stimpson

Progress Mentor

Bethanie began her career in the fitness industry, working as a personal trainer and gym instructor before becoming involved in coaching children through a triathlon club. This experience sparked her passion for working with young people and ultimately led her into a career in education. She initially worked in a nursery and later as a one-to-one teaching assistant in a primary school, before completing her teaching qualification and postgraduate studies. Since then, Bethanie has taught in both the private and state education sectors.

Her academic background includes a qualification in Sports Development, Fitness and Coaching at college, alongside a Childhood & Youth undergraduate degree (2:1). These studies have enabled her to combine her interests in sport, education, and child development, shaping her holistic approach to teaching and mentoring.

Bethanie is passionate about supporting learners to achieve their goals — educationally, personally, and in terms of wellbeing. She places strong emphasis on communication and relationship building, and takes great pride in helping individuals build confidence and overcome challenges. One of her proudest achievements has been supporting learners who initially doubted themselves to grow in confidence and achieve success.

Outside of work, Bethanie has always maintained a strong interest in sport. She previously competed in triathlons and now focuses on running and swimming. In 2023, she completed the London Marathon — an achievement she is particularly proud of. She also enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and their two dogs, which is where she is happiest when not working.

Ola Kambul

Skills Coach

Ola began her career in supply chain within fast-paced warehouse and logistics environments, where she developed a strong understanding of operations and people management. Her journey into the Supply Chain sector wasn’t planned, but through hands-on experience she discovered a passion for improving processes and supporting others – which naturally led her into training and development.

She has progressed through a range of roles across operations, recruitment, and training, including Programme Coach and L&D Lead. She designed and delivered apprenticeship programmes, supporting over 40 learners to successful completion and contributing to strong quality outcomes and inspection success.  Her transition into mentoring was driven by a desire to make a direct impact on people’s confidence, growth, and career progression.

Ola’s mentoring style is supportive, structured, and empowering. She combines real operational experience with coaching expertise, helping learners apply knowledge in practical workplace settings. One of her proudest career achievements has been supporting learners who started with low confidence to achieve distinctions and progress into new roles within their organisations. She has also led a UK-wide Mental Health First Aider network, embedding wellbeing into workplace culture and supporting colleagues through challenging situations.

From day one, she shares a consistent message with every learner: “You’re more capable than you think – but you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone to see it.”

Outside of work, Ola enjoys walking with her Border Collie, Luna, and cross stitching. She recommends Legacy by James Kerr to anyone in supply chain, for its powerful insights into leadership and culture. If she wasn’t working in mentoring and development, she would likely be pursuing a career as a Visual Merchandiser.

Jack Callaghan

Jack Moore

Operations Team Leader

In December 2023, Jack joined SRSCC as an Operations Coordinator and quickly established himself as a key member of the team.

Promoted to Team Leader in October 2024, Jack utilises his expertise in auditing processes and innovative problem-solving to identify and enhance growth opportunities.

Jack possesses a strong ability to analyse and refine systems and procedures, consistently uncovering chances for streamlining and automation that drive operational efficiency. He excels at communicating complex ideas with clarity and precision.

Detail-oriented yet big-picture focused, Jack applies his exceptional organisational skills to ensure the team adopts the most effective strategies for achieving both individual and collective goals.

His methodical approach and strategic mindset make Jack an invaluable asset to SRSCC, significantly contributing to the team’s success and the realisation of organisational objectives.