Cardiff to accelerate net zero plans and aims for Living Wage

Cardiff is set to become a ‘stronger, greener and fairer city’ as it launches its new procurement strategy.  

The Cardiff Council Socially Responsible Procurement Strategy (CCSRPS) has been created to focus on delivering seven key objectives. 

Some of the main aims include creating job opportunities and apprenticeships, encouraging local businesses to pay the Real Living Wage and accelerating the move to becoming net-zero. 

Cardiff council spends over £500m a year buying goods and services from 8,000 suppliers, making it a key customer for many local businesses.   

In the past year, over 50% of what the council spends on suppliers was distributed to Cardiff-based businesses with almost 69% being spent within the Cardiff Capital Region. 

As a result of this, Cardiff Council have announced a five-year plan which will encourage businesses in the city to ‘think local’, ensuring businesses are doing their bit to work in a socially responsible manner which benefits residents.  

Along with helping small businesses, Cardiff council have also improved their social commitments by using the National Themes, Outcomes for Wales Social Value Framework. 

Tenders select from a list of typical community benefits what they will commit to deliver over the period of the contract. Current live contracts include social value commitments which will deliver £6,384,437 of social value.  

These include: 101 tonnes of carbon reductions, 577 tonnes of waste reduction and over 4,000 hours of apprenticeship opportunities.  

Cllr Chris Weaver, Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Finance and Modernisation said: ‘Our vision of a stronger, greener and fairer Cardiff makes it clear that the power of the council’s spending and investment decisions must be used to provide opportunities for local business to create local employment and training opportunities and promoting wider social and environmental improvements. 

‘We want the businesses we support to ‘think local’, what can they do to boost job opportunities and training opportunities here and how can they help us tackle the climate emergency either through their own supply chains or through ensuring they are working in a greener way. 

‘To this end we are committed to the delivery of community benefits, including employment and apprenticeship opportunities, and the promotion of “Fair Working Practices” including payment of the Real Living Wage. We are proud that Cardiff is recognised as a Living Wage City and would encourage all employers to look at the benefits of becoming an accredited Living Wage employer.’ 

The CCSRPS will run from 2022-2027 and will be brought before Cabinet on October 20 before going to full council for ratification on October 27.   

Photo by Grooveland Designs