Strategic Sourcing Services: Find and Secure the Right Suppliers

Clear requirements, the right shortlist and commercial terms set by you, not the supplier.

Our strategic sourcing services help UK businesses find, assess and contract with the suppliers that best fit their needs. We define your requirements, research the market, evaluate potential suppliers on quality, reliability, financial stability and reputation, then help you agree the commercial model and contract. For Broadway Partners, we led sourcing across all categories as part of a £150m supply chain strategy that gained investment bank approval. Book a free consultation to talk through your sourcing needs.

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What is strategic sourcing?

Supplier sourcing is a structured way of identifying, evaluating and building relationships with the suppliers that best fit your business needs. Strategic sourcing goes further. It makes sure your supplier relationships support your wider business goals, so sourcing becomes a driver of success rather than a one-off purchase.

Find the right suppliers with a clear sourcing strategy

Finding suppliers can be hard. The market is large, and finding the right fit takes time, expertise and a clear approach. Strategic sourcing turns procurement from a transactional activity into a core part of how your business works. Our supplier sourcing services take the guesswork out and connect you with suppliers that fit your needs, with a focus on quality, value and working together as you grow.

Turning your needs into the right supplier match

Using our years of industry experience, we help businesses find the right suppliers and make sure every supplier relationship adds value. Our strategic sourcing process improves how you buy and makes your organisation more efficient. With 19 years of procurement expertise across defence, government, NHS, construction and technology, we know what good looks like in each market.

What's included in our strategic sourcing services

Our service follows two core stages – needs identification and market research – followed by supplier evaluation and contracting. You can use the full service or pick the elements you need.

Step 1: Needs identification and clarity

Specifications. We help you set out your exact requirements, from material composition to technology functional requirements, so suppliers (and you) understand what you need.

Quantities. Together, we work out the volumes you need. This helps suppliers assess their capacity and offer their best prices, with commercial models that allow you to scale.

Delivery times. We set clear timelines, so suppliers can meet your demand on time and there are agreed remedies if deliveries are late.

Quality standards. We help you set the right quality benchmarks and make sure the contract sets out those standards clearly.

Commercial models. We help you state up front how you want the commercials to work, so the supplier does not dictate them.

Step 2: Research and discovery

Online research. We search widely online to find suitable suppliers, including global sourcing options. We use B2B platforms such as SAP's supplier network and analyst research from firms such as Gartner and Forrester.

Trade shows. We meet potential suppliers directly, understand what they offer and assess the competition.

Industry directories. We search industry-specific directories to find suppliers that match your needs.

Referrals. We use trusted networks, including your existing suppliers, business partners and industry associations, so new supplier relationships start on strong foundations.

Supplier evaluation and due diligence

We assess each potential supplier's ability to meet your needs, covering quality, reliability, financial stability and reputation. We use audits, certifications, customer feedback and references to build a full picture. See below for how we evaluate suppliers.

Tendering and supplier selection

For larger or more complex purchases, we run a competitive process to compare suppliers on equal terms. Our RFP process management service covers this in full, from requirements to evaluation and best and final offer.

Negotiation and contracting

We help you agree pricing, service levels, quality standards and remedies, and make sure the contract reflects what was agreed. See our contract negotiations service.

Supplier relationship management

Once the contract is signed, we help you build a strong working relationship with your new supplier through clear performance measures and regular reviews. Read our guide on how to undertake a supplier performance review.

Need to find a new supplier, or test whether your current ones are still right? Book a consultation and we will scope it with you.

How we work

Our strategic sourcing process follows six steps. Each step has a clear output, so you always know where the sourcing project stands.

1. Define your needs. We agree specifications, quantities, delivery times, quality standards and your preferred commercial model. Output: sourcing requirements document.
2. Research the market. We search online platforms, directories, trade shows and referral networks to build a long list of suppliers. Output: supplier long list.
3. Evaluate and shortlist. We assess each supplier's quality, reliability, financial stability and reputation. Output: evaluated shortlist with risks noted.
4. Run the competition. We invite shortlisted suppliers to quote or respond to an RFP and compare their offers on equal terms. Output: evaluation report and recommended supplier.
5. Negotiate and contract. We agree price, service levels and terms, then finalise the contract. Output: signed contract.
6. Onboard and manage. We set performance measures and review points so the relationship delivers what was promised. Output: supplier management plan.

Evaluating potential suppliers

Evaluating potential suppliers is a vital step in procurement. It means carefully assessing whether a supplier can meet your business needs. A thorough evaluation covers the supplier's quality, reliability, financial stability and reputation.

Good evaluation helps you find the most suitable supplier and reduces the risk of choosing the wrong one. It can also uncover chances to save money and improve your processes. A well-planned evaluation makes sure the chosen supplier fits your needs and supports a successful procurement.

Assessing supplier quality and reliability

Assessing quality and reliability is a critical part of the evaluation. It means checking that the supplier can consistently deliver high-quality products or services. We use audits, certifications and customer feedback to do this.

A thorough assessment helps identify potential risks and areas to improve. A supplier's quality and reliability can have a big effect on your operations and your reputation, so a full assessment is essential. It reduces the risk of choosing an unsuitable supplier and keeps your supply chain strong.

Using referrals well

Referrals from existing suppliers, business partners or industry associations are a valuable source of information. They give you insight into a supplier's reliability, quality and overall performance, speed up evaluation and reduce the risk of choosing an unsuitable supplier.

Referrals also give you the chance to ask detailed questions and hear first-hand about a supplier's strengths and weaknesses. But you still need to check what you are told and research the supplier properly. Referrals should never be the only factor in your decision. A full evaluation should also cover quality, reliability, financial stability and reputation, so you choose the supplier that best fits your needs.

Proof: results from our sourcing work

Supply chain strategy supported a £150m investment for Broadway Partners

Broadway Partners needed a structured supply chain strategy and procurement framework to secure significant investment and scale its operations. We built the strategy, led sourcing across all categories and drafted contract templates to manage commercial risk and obligations. - Result: a £150m supply chain strategy that gained investment bank approval, plus a new procurement policy, process and procurement team. - Read the Broadway Partners case study

£250k savings and a supplier database for Block Solutions

Block Solutions needed to find supplier cost savings and get better visibility of its key supplier agreements. We analysed its supplier agreements and built a central database of supplier contracts, including a schedule of goods and services and a summary of key commercial terms. - Result: £250k in immediate supplier savings and a further £1m in potential savings identified. - Read the Block Solutions case study

More sourcing results

• £20m IoT procurement process led for BDR Thermea, with clear vendor selection criteria.
• £40m in supplier contracts secured for Serco's bike scheme, with Pashley Cycles and Beryl.
• £2m in savings and better supplier management for Johnson Matthey.

Our own framework credentials

• G-Cloud 14 – Athena secures a place on G-Cloud 14
• DOS 7 (Digital Outcomes and Specialists), Lots 1 and 3 – Athena awarded a place on DOS 7

Sectors we support

Defence

Defence supply chains need suppliers that meet security, quality and resilience standards. We have negotiated third-party technology partner agreements for defence cyber security contracts, and our team holds Security Check (SC) clearance. Read our guide to UK MoD procurement.

NHS and health

Health organisations and their suppliers need partners that meet strict data protection, clinical and quality standards. We help you build these checks into supplier evaluation from the start, so you do not find gaps after the contract is signed.

Construction

Construction projects depend on reliable subcontractors and material suppliers with the capacity to deliver on time. We help you set clear specifications, quantities and delivery remedies, and assess supplier financial stability before you commit.

Technology

Technology sourcing means comparing vendors, resellers and service providers on capability, licensing and support. We have negotiated with Dell, Cisco and software providers, securing £2m in savings for Johnson Matthey. See our technology procurement service.