Engaging with the Supply Chain

AWE plc only procures articles from suppliers that are financially sound and demonstrably competent in the management of their work. An AWE Suppliers List of Approved Suppliers is maintained by Procurement.

In order to become an approved supplier, potential contractors must undertake a three-part Contractor Competency Evaluation. The evaluation will be tailored to suit the likely circumstances of the contractual relationship. The three elements of an evaluation are:

• A business evaluation to confirm the business governance, financial stability and ownership of the contracting organization. This review will cover basic quality and safety standards to eliminate non compliant contractors and reduce nugatory work.
• A technical evaluation to confirm that the supplier is competent to provide the articles and meets functional standards.
• An Assurance evaluation to confirm the suppliers safety and quality performance standards and systems. This element is particularly critical for suppliers who may work on site. All suppliers working on an AWE site must comply with AWE Site Regulations (which include regulatory and licence conditions) and work with AWE towards maintaining an injury and incident free workplace. Construction suppliers shall be members of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), and be actively working to raise the construction skills of their workforce

Entry onto the suppliers list is managed by Procurement staff but detailed elements of the evaluation process is undertaken by functional experts within AWE plc.

An entry on the suppliers list provides no guarantee of work.

Following competency evaluation and prior to commitment to contract, the hazards of the task will be identified and a gap analysis of the suppliers assessed ability to deal with those hazards undertaken. All work on site requires a safe system of work to be evaluated.