Supply Chains as Conduits of Anchor Engagement

This paper explains how Leeds Beckett University (LBU) has developed a supply chain “collective” to deliver on its anchor mission. The supply chain collective is made up of 300 small and medium enterprises who trade with LBU. These organizations by subscribing to anchor principles, have access to LBU’s specialist business support advice and consultancy services provided by its Business School. This partnership arrangement offers the following benefits: it supports a shift to local purchasing and carbon reduction, provides direct business support to help small local businesses grow, and creates enriched service-learning opportunities for students and researchers. This paper briefly explains how LBU defines its role within the Leeds City Anchor Network, how it has adapted its purchasing strategy to incorporate social value considerations, how it developed part of its supply chain as a small and medium enterprise (SME) “collective”, and how the Leeds Business School has begun to build mutually beneficial relationships by using this new supply chain as a conduit for positive regional engagement.