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Ethical buying training for Tesco
Tesco operates 3,263 stores in 12 markets employing an estimated 318,283 full time employees and had sales of £42,000M in 2006.The company buys an enormous range of products, from fruit and vegetables through to electronics, clothing and toys, from almost every country in the world. Tesco’s trade brings enormous benefits to economies around the world. The challenge is for Tesco to encourage its suppliers to improve the conditions of those making these products to ensure that more people benefit from Tesco’s trade.Since 2001, Impactt has developed and delivered a course for buyers to raise their awareness of ethical issues and the effects that purchasing practices can have on labour standards. The course is now compulsory for all Tesco buyers around the world today in 2007. The training also aims to develop practical skills and experience in discussing these issues with suppliers through creative brainstorming exercises focused on a variety of products, discussions of different buying scenarios, as well as group exercises tackling real examples of ethical issues in different countries and industries.The course includes the following:
- Why bother with ethical trading?
- The business case
- The issues
- Ethical dilemmas - an interactive session exploring how buyer behaviour can affect labour practices
- Tesco’s ethical programme
- Case Studies
Impactt works with Tesco continually to update and develop the course ensuring it incorporates the latest media stories and information available.Ethical Buyer Training has been selected as a Key Performance Indicator for Tesco’s CSR activity. Attending the course is now compulsory for all Tesco buyers around the world. Category directors attend training and emphasise that buyers are responsible for ensuring that their behaviour does not prompt suppliers to cut corners.