Suppliers

Across O2, we deal with thousands of local and multinational suppliers and seek to interact with them - and industry at large - in a fair and ethical way and to promote sustainability considerations deep into our supply chain.

Our practices are strictly in line with our Business Principles and they ensure, for example, that we award business solely on merit and that we agree payment terms with suppliers that are fair and reasonable.

We operate in accordance with Telefónica Group procurement practices and processes, using a common e-sourcing platform. We have established a Strategic Sourcing process that provides us with a consistent and efficient way of conducting procurement projects, based on a category management approach.

We have local teams in the countries where we operate – the UK, Germany, Ireland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia – as part of their local business. We aim to continuously improve our professionalism, obtain world-class value in our supply chain and gain competitive advantage for O2 through strategic procurement activities. We also work closely with the procurement teams in our parent company Telefónica, in order to realise similar benefits across the whole group.

Our Supplier Relationship Management Programme for key suppliers enables us to work with each of them to maximise the two-way value for both parties. We also aim to minimise any adverse effects on society and the environment by working co-operatively with our suppliers and other third parties. Close dialogue with our partners is designed to promote and develop socially responsible policies that have a positive effect on all concerned.

At all times, we conduct our activities fairly and equitably and operate within the bounds of local and national laws and regulations.

In each country operation we require our suppliers to comply with our Supplier Policies and to agree to our standard purchasing terms (UK version: Purchasing Terms).

Supply Chain Responsibility

In line with our Business Principles, we take our social and environmental responsibilities seriously here, at O2.

We want everyone to be aware of our values and commitment throughout the whole supply chain. And we think hard about who we choose as suppliers. Our Supply Chain Responsibility Policy helps us in our drive to build a better future.

We always:

• make sure everyone who deals with suppliers understands the benefits of working responsibly
• tell our suppliers how we work, so we share the same vision
• encourage our suppliers to go the extra mile in anticipating and exceeding legislation
• promote continuous improvement and make sure we’re working together in more and more environmentally and socially responsible ways
• encourage our suppliers to work in the same way with their suppliers. In this way, the values are carried through our entire supply chain.

We are focused on sustainability in the supply chain, a key factor that makes a difference.