22.09.

Press release – The Supply Chain Initiative makes it easier for micro and small enterprises to join

22 September 2015 (PDF version)

As a further encouragement to micro and small enterprises [1] to join the Supply Chain Initiative (SCI), the Governance Group has decided to further simplify the procedure for their registration. Since 1st September, micro and small enterprises only need to register to show their commitment to the initiative and the principles; they are no longer asked to conduct a preliminary self-assessment, to appoint an independent contact point to deal with complaints or to carry out training. Moreover, they are invited to take part in the survey but this is no longer compulsory.

Medium-sized enterprises already benefit from a simplified procedure including a commitment to apply the principles, a simplified self-assessment tool, simplified training obligations and a special rate for the on-line training tool.  They can benefit from a derogation to appoint an independent contact person where resources are insufficient, but there is an obligation to take part in the annual survey.

Large companies continue to use the standard registration procedure.

Mella Frewen and Else Groen, co-Chairs of the Governance Group of the SCI, commented: ‘Micro and small enterprises can now enjoy easier access to the SCI. This decision responds especially to feedback from some registered companies that wished to see their trading partners also on board.

At the moment, SMEs represent 58% of the companies taking part in the SCI. We very much hope that this will contribute to reaching out to even more micro and small enterprises so they too can benefit from the full set of advantages offered by the SCI, including access to a range of dispute resolution mechanisms in case of an alleged breach of a Principle of Good Practice.’

 

 

[1] The EU definition is used to classify an enterprise in each of the categories, micro, small, medium and large. A micro enterprise is a company with <10 employees and ≤ € 2m turnover or balance sheet total. A small enterprise is a company with <50 employees and ≤ € 10m turnover or balance sheet total.

For any questions on the Principles of Good Practice or past activities of the SCI, please contact the organisations.