Fujitsu takes action to level the playing field for SMEs
Fujitsu UK & Ireland
London, November 26, 2013
- Fujitsu takes action to level the playing field for SMEs
Fujitsu UK & Ireland has today made a public commitment to level the playing field for SMEs to access its supply chain by taking The Access Pledge, an initiative of Business in the Community.
Fujitsu UK & Ireland has today made a public commitment to level the playing field for SMEs to access its supply chain by taking The Access Pledge, an initiative of Business in the Community. This public declaration in support of SMEs comes shortly after Fujitsu published the findings of its Collaboration Nation study, which set out to find out what barriers exist to SMEs and large enterprises working better together – and to help identify ways to improve.
By taking The Access Pledge, and working to make their business fair, transparent and open, large businesses are allowing SMEs to compete for their business on a level playing field. Fujitsu joins pioneering group of large businesses including Wates Group, Network Rail and Santander who have signed up to the pledge, which aims to tackle some of the barriers facing SMEs when they try to do business with large companies.
Fujitsu is already taking steps to make its procurement more open, fair and transparent, leveling the playing field for its own SMEs by creating a SME Charter, which not only details its commitment to working with the SMEs in its supply chain but also how it supports them to create mutually beneficial outcomes. It is also continuously producing resources for SMEs to draw on with regards to how big and small businesses can work together more effectively.
Fujitsu’s support of The Access Pledge forms part of its wider responsible business activity, which includes contributing to society by being an economic success, being an environmentally responsible business, and by being an active and committed social participant.
Commenting, Gavin Bounds, Chief Operating Officer, UK & Ireland, Fujitsu said: “Smaller, agile businesses bring creativity, innovation, and add value to our own skill set. Signing the BITC Access Pledge demonstrates our commitment to working with small to medium sized enterprises, as well as our passion for responsible business.”
Jane Pritchard, Enterprise Director, Business in the Community said: “SMEs are critical to creating sustainable communities, as they create local employment across the UK; since the beginning of the recession, nine out of ten unemployed people who found work in the private sector found it in an SME. We are delighted that Fujitsu has taken The Access Pledge, joining a growing group of large businesses that recognise the benefits to their business and society of supporting SMEs to flourish and create employment.”
The Access Pledge has been developed by Business in the Community, working together with procurement professionals from leading large businesses. It forms part of Business in the Community’s wider work on Enterprise, which looks to build sustainable communities by supporting SMEs to grow and create jobs across the UK.
About Fujitsu
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 170,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.4 trillion yen (US$47 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. For more information, please see: http://www.fujitsu.com
About Fujitsu UK & Ireland
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Fujitsu UK & Ireland is a leading IT systems, services and products company employing over 10,100 people with an annual revenue of £1.6 billion. Additionally, Fujitsu’s other operations in the UK bring its total employee numbers to over 14,000 and its total revenues to £1.8 billion. Its business is in enabling its customers to realise their objectives by exploiting information technology through its integrated product and service portfolio. This includes consulting, applications, systems integration, managed services and product for customers in the private and public sectors including retail, financial services, telecoms, government, defence and consumer sectors. For more information, please see: http://uk.fujitsu.com
About Business in the Community
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
Business in the Community is a business-led charity with a growing membership of over 850 companies. We work locally, nationally and internationally with 115 global partners.
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">With a further 11,000 engaged in our campaigns and an employee reach of 16.8 million - we are one of the largest and most influential leadership networks focused on driving responsible business practice.
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">We offer our members a range of practical information, tools, training and resources to help them transform their businesses and integrate responsible practices into their operations.
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">And we ask our members to work in partnership with us to help transform communities and tackle serious social issues where business can make a real difference, and in so doing are transformed themselves.
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Business in the Community is one of the Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is President. www.bitc.org.uk
About The Access Pledge
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Working together with procurement professionals from leading large businesses, Business in the Community has developed The Access Pledge. By taking The Access Pledge, and working to make their business fair, transparent and open, large businesses are allowing SMEs to compete for their business on a level playing field:
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I pledge to make my company's business, for all suppliers:
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
- Fair and simple
- Transparent and on a level playing field
- Open, with minimal barriers
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">By taking this pledge, large businesses will enable:
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
- access for SMEs to opportunities in large businesses through fair, transparent and open procurement
- access for large businesses to the growth and innovation within SMEs
- access for communities to the enhanced abilities of SMEs to generate local jobs
http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Together with procurement professionals, we have developed a series of examples of how large businesses could fulfil The Access Pledge; these examples can be found on the website at www.bitc.org.uk/accesspledge
Contact
Alizia Walker
+ 44 (0) 20 7861 2800
teamfujitsu@harvard.co.uk
Harvard PR
Graham Goulden
+ 44 (0) 843 354 9568
graham.goulden@uk.fujitsu.com
Fujitsu UK & Ireland
Ochuko Adekoya
+ 44 (0) 20 7566 8758
ochuko.adekoya@bitc.org.uk
BITC
Date: 26 November, 2013
City: London
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