Do you provide fairly priced, quality goods and services other businesses purchase? Are you committed to supporting the livelihoods of your employees through vibrant workplace practices?

If you answered yes to these questions then you will find the Social Purchasing Portal (SPP) an effective tool to increase sales, build your customer base and network with other like-minded business people.

The SPP provides a link between suppliers of goods and services and the businesses that purchase those items.

There is no cost to participate.

SPP Supplier Application Form

Benefits of joining the Social Purchasing Portal as a Supplier:

• Listing on the portal for a duration of 12 months.
• Receive referrals from companies you could potentially supply.
• Participation in networking and knowledge sharing sessions between portal partners.
• Monthly SPP newsletter containing updates, relevant news about business and corporate social responsibility.
• Announcements to the local media about your involvement with SPP.
• Receive SPP promotional materials recognizing your business as a SPP partner.

Responsibilities as a Supplier Partner

• Support the SPP by providing testimonials (quotes, articles, photos) from your employees, management or customers regarding your workplace practices.
• Completing the quarterly email survey distributed to all suppliers asking for information on any purchases made with other SPP Supplier Partners and any employees you hire from agencies that train and support people from un- and under- employed populations.

Eligibility
We are targeting all for-profit or non-profit businesses, with more than one employee, in a number of sectors. For a listing of sectors, click here. To qualify, your business must indicate you have achieved at least a rating of 'OK!' in at least 3 out of the 5 assets in the Social Purchasing Asset Model.

Application Process
You will be required to fill in a statement of commitment, a few paragraphs about why and how your business is supporting the livelihoods of your employees, and some detail related to each asset area. Download the application form here. You will be able to submit it via email or fax.

Application Deadline
We review applications on a continuous monthly basis towards the end of the month. You can submit your application at any time. When you submit, a representative of the SPP will contact you to review your submitted materials and notify you of the expected timeline for response.

Sectors We Are Targeting

• Accommodations
• Apparel and Retail Clothing
• Bars, Nightclubs and Lounges
• Caretaking
• Catering and Food Services
• Chemicals
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Repairs and Maintenance
• Computer Software
• Courier Services
• Digital Media Services (desktop publishing, digital photography, etc.)
• Financial Services
• Florists
• Hair Stylists
• Legal Services
• Meeting Spaces
• Office Supplies
• Printing and Distribution
• Promotional Products
• Recycling
• Restaurants and Cafes
• Staff Development and Training (facilitators, trainers)
• Telecommunications
• Thrift Stores
• Trades (Automotive, Carpentry/Construction, Electrical and Heating, Plumbing, Welders)
• Transportation (taxi, bus, air, etc.)
• Waste Disposal
• Water and Cooler Systems

Social Purchasing Asset Model


"A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets and activities required for a means of living. A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future." (Chambers and Conway, 1992)


The Asset Model describes five areas that as an employer, you can focus upon and ensure your employees lead healthy, productive and sustainable lives. To be eligible to become a SPP Supplier, you need to indicate you have achieved at least a rating of 'OK!' in at least 3 out of the 5 assets. Please rate yourself according to the following:

Great!	You are going above and beyond in efforts to ensure all employees' needs are being fulfilled.
Ok!	You are making good attempts and have started down a path towards supporting livelihoods.
Not yet	You have not looked actively at this area in terms of livelihoods, but am interested in discussing plans/opportunities to explore this. Please indicate any plans to explore this asset.

Financial Assets - Do you pay a Living Wage to all your employees?

• Great!
• As of 2007, the Living Wage in Calgary is set at $12.00/hr plus benefits (equivalent to $13.25/hr in lieu of benefits) for employees working full-time (35 hours/week, 52 weeks/year). (http://www.vibrantcalgary.com/livingwage/index.asp)
• Do you offer other employee incentives or programs you consider makes you a Living Wage employer (ie. the equivalent pay equals Living Wage)?
• Ok!
• You pay above average in terms of industry norms or are nearing the Living Wage amount ($13.25/hr or higher)?
• You consider a significant hourly wage important for your business and the needs of the community you operate in?
• Not yet
• You do not pay a Living Wage right now, but are interested in moving towards financial sustainability for our employees.

Human Assets - What personal development or skill training opportunities are provided to enhance employee future employability and advancement?

• Great!
• Includes training that is considered personal development such as language and communication skills, time management and organizational skills, public speaking, money management and financial planning.
• Ok!
• Includes training that is considered skill development such as sending employees to external workshops, taking courses at learning institutions, or participating in conferences. Skills NOT considered are job-specific skills such as learning how to use a proprietary computer system or being trained on a company policy.
• Not yet
• You do not offer any training aside from job-specific skills, but are interested in moving towards developing opportunities to offer personal development/skill training.

Physical Assets - What assistance (in-kind or monetary) is provided to support employee personal basic needs not directly related to their employment?

• Great!
• Includes offering programs or assistance that meet transportation, food, child/elder care or shelter needs.
• Ok!
• Includes providing information about external agencies that can support these basic needs.
• Not yet
• You do not offer any monetary or in-kind support for personal basic needs, but are interested in exploring opportunities with employees on a case-by-case scenario to do so.

Personal Assets - How does your business allow for personal needs and support employees in their non-work life?

• Great!
• Includes providing paid-time or business sponsored opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, physical activity, and spiritual activity.
• Ok!
• Includes flexibility in work hours due to personal circumstances.
• Not yet
• You normally do not allow non-work life issues to interfere with work, but are interested in exploring how to modify our business practice to consider these issues.

Social Assets - How are relationships built and open communication between the business and employees maintained?

• Great!
• Includes a feedback/suggestion process for employees to provide management information in an open and non-threatening way.
• All employees have a sense of contributing to the success of the business.
• Ok!
• Includes an informal understanding that feedback between staff and management is encouraged.
• Not yet
• There is little-to-no communication between management and staff at the present, but are interested in developing ways to strengthen communication channels.