Supplier
Springboard
Revolutionise your Supply Chain and Support Black-led SMEs
Launching for Large Organisations in April 2024
YOUR CHALLENGE
Do you want to diversify your supply chain and strengthen your connections with SMEs and Global Majority leaders?
Do you want to fulfil your EDI ambitions but lack access to the right networks?
Do you want to use the power of your everyday spend to have a social impact?
Our solution
BUD’s 12-month Supplier Springboard brings corporates and SMEs together for transformational leadership training, mentorship, and networking.
Your organisation will closely support Global Majority-led SMEs that are ready to supply, laying out a clear action plan for change within your procurement process and receiving a full impact report on completion of the programme.
BUD is a Global Majority and female-led social enterprise that seeks to support and develop Global Majority leaders. We have the expertise and networks to help you become better equipped to work with Global Majority-led SMEs, diversify your supply chain and hit your ESG targets.

What is included in Supplier Springboard?
Supplier Springboard connects you with a network of diverse SMEs that are supplier-ready through a series of workshops and mentoring. Commit just a single day each month to create meaningful partnerships with Global Majority-led SMEs businesses.
Uncover solutions to the barriers that you face in supply chain diversification and utilise our SHIFT systems change model to craft an action plan that will help you improve your practices, enhance your supplier diversity and easily attain your ESG targets.
You will be matched with a Global Majority-led SME as a Business Buddy. Here, you will provide hands-on support through Action Learning Sets and a mentoring process to support the SME in improving their skills and knowledge to meet the corporate standard.
At the end of the programme, you will receive a full impact report outlining the social impact your company has had by taking part in Supplier Springboard and supporting Global Majority-led SMEs.
- Relationship building with Global Majority-led SMEs that are supplier-ready
- Peer learning with similar organisations around supplier diversity
- Experiencing inclusive leadership training – the BUD way!
- Creating an action plan for change within your organisation
- Obtaining an impact report quantifying the social value you have added
- Receiving Anti-Racism training for your organisation
- Offering hands-on mentoring to an SME Business Buddy
- New and improved relationships with Global Majority-led SMEs that are supplier-ready
- Streamlined procurement processes through our SHIFT Model of Maturity
- Greater social impact through sharing of resources that drive growth
- Better understanding of the challenges that SMEs face in the supply chain
- Deeper awareness of the link between DEI and productivity
- Improved leadership ability
- Greater confidence to become a catalyst for change within your organisation
The morning programme for each Supplier Springboard day will feature joint workshops with corporate participants and SME leaders to help build new networks, share experiences and learn together.
These morning sessions will cover topics including:
- Sharing experiences of corporate supply chains
- Exploring power in the workplace
- Visioning for diverse supply chains
- Establishing your pledge for supplier diversity
- Learning inclusive leadership styles
- Empowering Leadership Cycle
- Building resilience after setbacks
- Shared decision making
- Action Learning Sets with an SME Business Buddy
During the afternoon of a Supplier Springboard day, the corporate participants and SME leaders will have separate workshops to focus on their relevant development areas to diversify supply chains. For large organisations, this includes our SHIFT Model of Maturity, which explores how to optimise:
- Processes
- People
- Planning
- Priority areas
- Testing of ideas
There is also an opportunity to visit your SME Business Buddy’s organisation, and vice versa.
Supplier Springboard is designed for large organisations that aim to diversify their supply chain by working with small and medium-sized organisations (SMEs) that are Global Majority-led.
This 12-month programme will include a selection of large organisations that share this aim, as well as various Global Majority-led SMEs who seek to supply larger organisations. Each cohort of this programme includes up to 20 SMEs and 20 large organisations as participants. There are multiple opportunities throughout the programme for each type of organisation to network and build relationships, as well as learn how to work together more collaboratively. You can read more about the SME journey on Supplier Springboard here.
If you wish to support SMEs on the programme through another method, such as sponsoring an SME participant or providing them with mentoring or consultancy support, please get in touch by contacting katherine@budleaders.org.

What is in it for you?
Bring Black and Global Majority-led businesses into your supply chain!
Provide skills and development opportunities to Global Majority-led SMEs.
Gain access to new networks of SMEs that are supplier-ready.
Use your everyday spend to hit your CSR and ESG targets.
Become a catalyst for change!
DID YOU KNOW?
Statistically, SMEs are more cost effective than their counterparts.
SMEs are 33% more innovative than their larger peers.
.
Why choose BUD?

Supplier Springboard is a 12-month programme that requires a commitment of only one day a month. Each cohort of the programme includes up to 20 participants from large organisations.
Various Pricing Options Available
Additional benefits are available if two or more delegates are enrolled in the programme.
A percentage of your programme fee will go towards funding an SME’s participation in Supplier Springboard.

Want to find out more about Supplier Springboard?
Contact katherine@budleaders.org with your questions. Alternatively, book in a meeting.
Click here to learn more about the journey through Supplier Springboard for Small/Medium Sized Organisations.