West Midlands Forum

A common approach (The Common Standard for Equalities in Public Procurement) to Council contracts has been developed and used by a group of 6 local authorities in the West Midlands (the West Midlands Forum) since 1998. The aims of the standard include: helping contractors meet their obligations for non-discrimination, encouraging and acknowledging firms who comply with the standard, sharing good practice, and securing contracts that deliver equalities in public procurement.

Authorities can use the standard to assess whether or not contractors are meeting their obligations under equality legislation at an early stage (pre-qualification) which is when the authority decides who they will invite to tender or put on to their approved lists.  Firms are asked to achieve up to ten criteria, depending on the number of staff they employ. These criteria include: providing a comprehensive equal opportunities policy; using open recruitment practices; identifying and addressing imbalances in job applicants and employees according to gender ethnicity and disability; providing equality training for managers; and reporting and consultation on equality in the workplace.   Once a contractor has been approved they need not resubmit equal opportunities policies to any of the forum members within a three year review period.  

The standard demands a proportionate response from firms as it allows for the size of contractor in terms of the evidence it requires.  For example, firms with less than 5 employees need only provide reassurance that they will meet the standard if the number of employees increases.  Benefits for contractors and local authorities include: reducing paperwork (saving time and money) and better implementation of equality in the workplace.

In order to provide even greater efficiencies further development work is being undertaken. 

The Commission for Racial Equality supports the use of the standard as a means of assessing whether service providers are suitable.

The West Midlands Forum was developed by Brimingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Sandwell MBC, Redditch BC, Walsall MBC and Wolverhampton City Council.

This leaflet sets out WMF's position at the time of publication.  It is a working document in response to legislation and may be subject to change.

You can download the leaflet in a PDF format by clicking on the icon below:

This presentation gives further details of the background and operation of the Common Standard