Supporting Global Ethics Day and Anti-Slavery Week 2025
Discover more about how we're supporting best practice in procurement and supply.
What is Ethical Procurement & Supply?
A way of working that meets international standards against criminal conduct, bribery, corruption, fraud, modern slavery and other human rights abuses.
The benefits of being ethical
Individuals and organisations acting ethically is crucial in this current world of unprecedented challenges from accelerating climate change to a global refugee crisis to the proliferation of irresponsible AI. Adopting ethical practice will lead to several benefits, here are the top five:
- Attract customers and increase brand loyalty
- Entice top talent and be an employer of choice
- Be a customer of choice with the right suppliers
- Impact your local community and environment
- Impact strategy and legislation
CIPS Futures Podcast - CIPS Foundation special
An estimated 28 million people are employed in forced labour in supply chains, leaving procurement professionals on the frontline of navigating this global crime. CIPS Foundation is aiming to tackle this head on by providing funding to the modern slavery charity Unseen to turn data from its Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline into actionable insights for procurement professionals. You can hear all about it on the CIPS Foundation special of the CIPS Futures podcast.
How can CIPS help you reach maximum performance and maintain ethical and sustainable practices?
For Individuals
Achieve Chartered status
As a Chartered professional you are recognised globally for your expertise and credibility; you are trusted and influential. If you are fully qualified (MCIPS/FCIPS) and a current member of CIPS, you can follow the simple process to upgrade to Chartered and be included on our Professional Register. A key part of the process is The Ethical Procurement and Supply eLearning & Test, which explores the key issues of environmental procurement, human rights, and fraud, bribery and corruption and it will give you the tools to create sustainable supply chains in your organisation.
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Develop your skills
Whether you’re looking to learn more about mitigating the risks of modern slavery in the supply chain, how you can ensure sustainability is at the core of your procurement plans or delivering social value benefits through effective procurement and supply chain management, we have the skills training course for you.
All our courses are delivered virtually by expert tutors, so you'll be sure to know that you're learning from the very best and each course also carries a number of Continuing Professional Development hours that you’ll be able to log for your own development or towards CIPS Chartered Status.
For Organisations
Show your commitment to ethical and sustainable practices
Adopt the CIPS Corporate Code of Ethics to be awarded the Corporate Ethics Mark and be listed on the CIPS Corporate Ethical Register.
We've developed our Corporate Code of Ethics as part of our commitment to reinforce ethical values across all procurement and supply practices. The CIPS Corporate Code of Ethics sets out best practice values, business culture and practices including:
- Understanding and commitment
- Ethical practice
- Professionalism
- Accountability
By operating procurement and supply management in accordance with this code, your organisation can uphold and demonstrate strong ethical values. Read more about the code of Ethics here
Once your organisation has adopted the code of Ethics and all employees responsible for sourcing and supplier management have completed and passed the CIPS Ethical e-learning assessment, along with either your CEO or CPO signing a statement of commitment to ethical procurement and supply, your organisation will be awarded the Corporate Ethics Mark and be listed on the CIPS Corporate Ethical Register.
Upskill your team
We have skills training courses to suit your organisations needs from mitigating the risks of modern slavery in your supply chain, ensuring sustainability is at the core of your procurement plans, delivering social value benefits through effective procurement and supply chain management to even the basics of getting to grips with the fundamentals of procurement.
Modern Slavery in the Supply Chain Programme
We can help you understand how to reduce slavery in your supply chain including:
- Training - We can run training for employees on how to spot slavery, what to do if it's found and how to prevent it to build shared awareness and understanding of the legal landscape.
- GAP Analysis & Risk Assessment - We can review your current slavery statement if you have one, identify sourcing practice compliance against best practice and provide a risk-based categorisation of your supply chain, helping to develop an action plan to mitigate risks.
Procurement Award Winners
Congratulations to our Award winners, an accolade well deserved for their commitment to ethical practice:
- BP PLC - Best Sustainability Project Of The Year
- Heathrow Airport - Best Initiative To Build A Diverse Supply Base
- National Highways - Best Initiative To Deliver Social Value Through Procurement
- UK Power Networks - Best Commitment To Carbon Reduction In Supply Chains