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Finding and managing suppliers

We have collected the following resources to help you find suppliers for your business and manage supplier relationships. Our selection of articles, links and guides can help you identify best practice, techniques and tools to fit your situation.
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Latest on finding and managing suppliers

Read our latest features and articles on finding suppliers and managing supplier relationships.
Suppliers to large UK companies face sustainability scrutiny
  • Article
  • 09 Dec 2022
Large UK public companies are now required to report on climate-related issues – but all companies, irrespective of size, within their supply chains must also reduce their emissions so that the larger organisations comply with the rules.
Why good relationships are vital as inflation bites
  • Article
  • 05 Sep 2022
As costs rocket on the back of inflation, maintaining cordial and constructive relationships with business contacts in your supply chain is of paramount importance.
Young people working in urban roof garden.
How SMEs can work with local authorities
  • Article
  • 19 Apr 2022
The government is urging local authorities to harness the social power of SMEs in their areas. Which measures will help procurement teams and small suppliers strike up winning relationships?
Facilitation of local audit working arrangements between firms
  • Article
  • 15 Dec 2021
ICAEW has offered to share contact details between firms interested in working together ahead of the forthcoming PSAA local government audit procurement round.
Increasing supply chain cyber resilience
  • Article
  • 04 Jun 2021
Cyber breaches can be caused by many things, but one risk factor that is causing increasing concern is supply chains, especially as only 12% of businesses have reviewed cybersecurity risks posed by their suppliers.
Can COVID change supply chain management in construction?
  • Article
  • 08 Jun 2020
8 June: With many construction clients in the dark about the impact of coronavirus on their suppliers, the pandemic may be the catalyst for a more intelligence-led approach to supply chains, spreading risk and cost more equitably.
Exclusive Getting the most out of your suppliers
  • Article
  • 14 Oct 2019
Managing suppliers is a core competency for every organisation, yet many don't take the time to develop these relationships. Padraig Floyd outlines a number of reasons why you should.
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Business press

The Library provides access to leading business, finance and management journals. These journals are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users subject to suppliers' terms of use.
Exclusive A better approach to supplier contracts
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2023
  • David Frydlinger, Oliver Hart, Kate Vitasek
Traditional purchasing contracts don’t work in complex strategic relationships where the parties are highly dependent on each other and flexibility and trust are required. The authors describe a formal relational contract which companies can use instead. A formal relational contract lays a foundation of trust, specifies mutual goals, and establishes governance structures to keep the parties’ expectations and interests aligned over time. Article includes model wording and the table 'Which type of contract is right for you?'.
Exclusive UK businesses still squeezing suppliers: UK businesses are feeling the payment squeeze
  • Article
  • 01 Jul 2022
The 2022 European Payment Report has revealed that businesses are paying their suppliers even later on average - despite the strengthening of the Prompt Payment Code. Almost half of the 11,000 businesses surveyed said they would like to improve their management of late payments but are held back by a lack of in-house skills and resources.
Exclusive Don’t let negotiations upset the apple cart
  • Article
  • 01 May 2022
  • Jacqueline K.Eastman, Monique L.Murfield, Stephanie P.Thomas
When it comes to successful negotiations, a buyer's history with a supply chain partner creates expectations. Any changes in that negotiation strategy can create confusion, as buyers search for explanations for the unexpected behaviour. Here are suggestions for buyers dealing with supplier relationships in a turbulent supply chain environment.
Exclusive Perception matters
  • Article
  • 01 May 2021
  • Thomas Clauss, Chanchai Tangpong
How your procurement team perceives your suppliers - and their capabilities - can have a profound impact on the performance of your supply chain. Those can be managed.
Exclusive How to procure indirect services
  • Article
  • 01 Mar 2018
  • Jayanth Jayaram, Sime Curkovic
Best practices for procurement of indirect materials and services in large organisations.
Exclusive Putting the pieces together
  • Article
  • 01 Mar 2017
  • Ronnie Garrett
The article focuses on supplier relationship management (SRM) for procurement managing and capturing the post-contract value from business relationships. The contributors comment on the lack of clarity around SRM in companies and how to maximise the value of interactions with suppliers.
Exclusive How to negotiate with powerful suppliers
  • Article
  • 01 Jul 2015
  • Petros Paranikas, Grace Puma Whiteford, Bob Tevelson, Dan Belz
Follow these strategies to regain purchasing power with your suppliers.
Exclusive Tibco vs Bank of America: A case study in failed supplier relationship
  • Article
  • 05 Aug 2014
  • Cliff Saran
The case of software supplier Tibco vs Bank of America highlights a catastrophic breakdown in supplier relationships, writes Cliff Saran.

External resources - organisations

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)
  • Website
  • 30 Dec 2021
Professional body representing individuals and organisations in the field of purchasing and supply chain management. Resources on the website include supply management models (member-only), CIPS Risk and Resilience Assessment Tool, document templates and glossary of procurement terms.
International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM)
  • Website
  • 30 Dec 2021
Federation of national and regional purchasing associations. The body provides a blog and news articles.
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Some of the content on this web page was provided by the Chartered Accountants’ Trust for Education and Research, a registered charity, which owns the library and operates it for ICAEW.