ILEO: Inclusive Procurement

What is Inclusive Procurement?

Inclusive Procurement is one of five pilot projects of the Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity (ILEO) Initiative co-convened by United Way Greater Toronto and BMO. It aims to reduce gaps in economic prosperity by connecting small- and medium-sized suppliers in Scarborough’s Greater Golden Mile to large corporate partners with procurement needs.

As one of the action areas for signatories of the ILEO Corporate Charter, inclusive procurement encourages corporate partners to prioritize purchasing from suppliers that are local, diverse-owned, and/or have a social mission. Inclusive procurement opportunities can range from suppliers of professional services (e.g., staffing, consulting), to goods and services (e.g., cleaning, property management, catering), and arts and culture.

Do you live in or operate a business in the following postal codes (M1J, M1K, M1L, M3C, M4A)?

We want to help local business grow and build new procurement relationships with some of our partners. Contact ILEO@uwgt.org to learn more about our approach to inclusive procurement.

Local Procurement

Companies prioritize procurement of quality products from diverse-owned GGM-based businesses and social enterprises.

More Economic Activity

Increased prosperity spurs new economic activity including local spending and new businesses offering a wider selection of quality products.

Local Business Growth

Purchases made by companies increase revenues for local businesses and support growth.

Local Employment Growth

Growing local businesses employ more residents, increasing incomes and economic well-being.

A mutually beneficial business case

For the corporate sector, the business benefits of adopting inclusive procurement policies include increased customer satisfaction and employee engagement, while building relationships with local suppliers . Inclusive procurement practices can also add value to large organizations by reflecting their diverse customers and employees and creating a more diverse supply chain that delivers on their Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI) goals.

At the same time, inclusive procurement can build the wealth and assets of local economies by providing opportunities to small businesses and stimulating employment for people facing barriers. It also grows social inclusion through the participation of diverse groups. Beyond the contractual value of the purchase, Greater Golden Mile-based businesses can benefit reputationally from the brand affiliation when they supply prominent corporations.

PwC Canada unveils two art pieces created by local Golden Mile artists. — As part of its commitment to procuring from local and diverse suppliers, ILEO partner PwC Canada purchased two art pieces from local artists: Sarah Alinia Ziazi and Megan Feheley. Please contact ileo@uwgt.org to learn more about local art procurement opportunities.

As part of its commitment to procuring from local and diverse suppliers, ILEO partner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) has been procuring hummus products for its events from Sunflower Kitchen, a family-owned local business from the Golden Mile.

Interested in implementing inclusive procurement practices? Read a case study and a step-by-step guide about how The Daniels Corporation leveraged inclusive procurement practices to fulfill its art procurement needs in its construction projects by drawing from a roster of local artists and artisans.