Procurement, supply chain management and research & development

At Bellway we aim to create sustainable long term relationships with our suppliers and sub-contractors. Procurement is controlled using a central supply chain function and supported by divisional teams. The system establishes standard national procurement arrangements for the majority of main construction products, with our divisions also able to utilise local suppliers where appropriate. This centralisation of the procurement process also helps to maintain competitive pricing levels and ensures our terms and conditions make it clear that we will not tolerate slavery or human trafficking in the supply chain.

Supplier relationships

We are committed to selecting suppliers, products and services that meet the quality and value-for-money requirements of the business, whilst at the same time minimising, where possible, any potential negative social and environmental impacts. Where possible we service sites via local suppliers or local distribution centres to both reduce carbon emissions from the transport of materials and to employ people from local communities.

The relationships we form with our supply chain helps us to ensure that company policies are adhered to, current procurement levels are maintained, and that we are compliant with legislative requirements and planning requirements. We rely on our supply chain to support our reputation for high standards and we believe that the development of long-term relationships helps us to achieve this.

Prompt payment code

We are members of the Prompt Payment Code, recognising our commitment to paying our suppliers within clearly defined and agreed terms.

Sustainability

Our aim is to constantly improve the quality and sustainability of our houses and we have achieved this in a number of areas. We require wood products used in the house building process to originate from verified well-managed forests, stipulating that timber should be PEFC¹ or FSC² certified – click on the link below to view our wood procurement policy.

In addition, white goods (ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines) are energy A rated or better and over 95% of all water fittings are accredited to the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS)³.

Research & development

Our house type designs and build processes are constantly evolving as we seek to respond to the demands of our customers, stakeholders and the ever more stringent statutory requirements.

Residential development sites are diverse in their character and environment. This offers us the opportunity for the research and development of new systems, products and processes to further improve our efficiency.

We keep under constant review our house designs and building materials to learn from the way they perform during construction and in use. This improves the performance of the home for our customers as well as reducing costly and wasteful repair and alteration works.

Wood procurement policy

Bellway’s aim is to ensure that all wood products used by the Company in the house building process originate from verified well-managed forests.

1The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification.

2The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests.

3The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) is a conformance mark that demonstrates that an item complies with high standards set out by water regulations promulgated in 1999 in the United Kingdom.