Exploring collaboration and social value in supply chains at the Supply Chain Summit 2024

The 'Ideas in Practice' Supply Chain Summit 2024 was co-hosted by Leeds University Business School and the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) on 29 November 2024 at Cloth Hall Court in Leeds, focusing on collaboration, social value, and sustainability in complex supply chains. 

Now in its eighth year, and second year in partnership with the ICW, the Supply Chain Summit was attended by over 80 delegates from a range of organisations, including those in higher education, local government bodies, construction and engineering firms, transport and infrastructure providers, and commerce and procurement companies. 

This year’s event focused on how the management of complex supply chains is increasingly vital in achieving cross-sector social value and sustainability goals.  

The summit was opened by David Loseby, Visiting Professor of Research Impact at Leeds University Business School, followed by a keynote presentation from Frank Lee, Chief Executive Officer of the ICW, who talked about the power of structured collaboration and social value in driving sustainability and economic benefits. 

Brian Walton, Deputy Alliance Director, and Gareth Williams, Sustainability Director, from TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) West Alliance then gave an overview of the TRU programme, using the organisation’s initiatives to show what can be achieved through collaboration. Professor Chee Yew Wong closed the session by discussing social impact as a contracted outcome, and providing an overview of the collaborative case study work Leeds University Business School is conducting with TRU West Alliance. 

David Loseby led a panel discussion with Caroline Hinchcliffe, Procurement Lead, Kier Highways; Matthew Rumble, Senior Supply Chain Collaboration Manager, National Air Traffic Services; and Stefan Jastak, Supplier Development Group Leader, National Highways, discussing whether the public or private sector is better placed to deliver on sustainability and social value through complex supply chains. 

After lunch, Professor Chee Yew Wong spoke to Mel Worthy, Government Engagement Manager, and Thomas Harrison, Partnerships Manager UK, from the British Standards Institution about how affirmative action can reverse the increase of modern slavery in procurement and supply chain. 

This was followed by Dr Jie Chen, Associate Professor of Operations and Supply Management at Leeds University Business School in conversation with Tim Cummins, President of World Commerce and Contracting, and Clare Waller, Partner in Commercial and Corporate at Spencer West LLP. They discussed the idea of whether contracts act as enablers or blockers. 

The following three breakout sessions focused on the below questions: 

• Costs and resilient supply chains are top priorities to survive as an organisation - how do we keep an actionable focus on sustainability, social value and Scope 3 emissions? (Chaired by Dr Manish Shukla, Associate Professor of Operations Management at Leeds University Business School) 

• How can collaboration across sectors ensure mutually inclusive approaches to social value within supply networks that lead to positive outcomes? (Chaired by Gareth Williams, Sustainability Director, TRU West Alliance) 

• Where should research focus to ensure we connect circularity, sustainability and social value to ensure practitioner impact? (Chaired by Ken Webster, Visiting Professor at Cranfield University) 

The summit provided an opportunity to hear about Leeds University Business School’s work with the ICW and TRU West Alliance, as well as to learn about and discuss some of the current priorities and challenges when it comes to collaboration, social value, and sustainability in complex supply chains. 

It also underscored the critical role of social value and sustainability in supply chains, emphasising how collaborative efforts can drive meaningful impact across sectors. By fostering partnerships between academia, industry, and government, the event showcased how research can provide actionable solutions that enhance social and environmental outcomes within complex supply chains.