Femeconomy and WEConnect International are collaborating to provide greater access for members to procurement opportunities
Currently women owned businesses access less than 1% of the global procurement market. WEConnect International and Femeconomy are united by a common purpose to educate business owners and large procurement organisations on how their purchasing decisions can create gender equality, and increase market access for women owned businesses.
WEConnect International is a global non profit network present across 120 countries that connects women-owned businesses (minimum 51% owned, managed and controlled by one or more women) to qualified buyers around the world. Femeconomy is a national membership organisation that educates consumers, budget owners and business owners on how purchasing decisions can create gender equality. Femeconomy approved brands have at least 30% of women on the Board of Directors or are 50% female owned.
Working Together to help women succeed in supply chains and create sustainable businesses
By joining forces, Femeconomy and WEConnect International have combined their network to provide global access to supply chains for women owned businesses and a pipeline of qualified women owned businesses for procurement organisations.
Women owned businesses benefit through greater access to supply opportunities.
Procurement organisations of all sizes benefit by increasing their supplier diversity to foster ethical supply practices and promote long term organisational sustainability. Putting in place and communicating supplier diversity and gender equality programs externally builds trust both with local communities, and with stakeholders more broadly, as organisations are increasingly held to account for their social impact.
Our members share the value of collaboration
Women owned businesses across both networks value collaboration. Alicia Beachley of April5 and Jayne Walsh of Designlogic are members of both Femeconomy and WEConnect International, and sit on WEConnect International’s Women Owned Enterprises Council.
Alicia Beachley, CEO April5 said, “I am a big believer in fostering effective supplier diversity and believe it strengthens a corporate companies supply chain. Women Owned businesses are under represented but can often supply goods and services that are better, faster or cheaper. Many companies go for ‘tier 1’ mainstream suppliers because that’s what they have always done, or they believe it to be ‘safe’. I believe Women Owned businesses must be in the consideration set for truly inclusive procurement.
As a certified Women Owned business, it has given me a seat at the table and an opportunity to participate in procurement process and tenders, from those businesses leading the charge in supplier diversity. As a result, we are now working with two large corporations and form an integral part of their supply chain, and are considered true business partners.”
Jayne Walsh, CEO Designlogic said, “We live in a diverse world – experienced and seen through a kaleidoscope of unique perspectives. Diversity of perspective is often stifled by traditional monochrome approaches to thinking and problem solving. The value of my business as a women-owned supplier to global corporations lies in the fact that we solve their problems from a unique standpoint – a diverse standpoint – that is agile and infused with passion, creativity and pragmatism.
It is this infusion of our diversity that has sustained our growth and reputation as a trusted creative partner with global corporations for the past 17 years.“
ABOUT FEMECONOMY
You are the female economy. Whether you are a female consumer, business owner or a woman in the workforce, you can create gender equality by choosing female led brands. To learn more about joining Femeconomy, hit the big red button below:
