Gay Business Association want your contribution
Improvements to LGBT Business & SME Procurement Process
The government has asked the Gay Business Association to suggest ways they can improve the procurement environment for LGBT businesses and SMEs.
We would appreciate your feedback and suggestions for a GBA response. Please reply to: hello@gba.org.uk
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Among the issues we have been thinking about are:
- affirmative action - similar to that operating in the USA, where government suppliers must have diversity and equality policies that include LGBT priority involvement - like the 'Compete4' process inviting minority businesses to bid for Olympic contracts, successfully used by larger GBA members, and which could be extended and simplified for smaller enterprises
- regulation - does EU 'red tape' hamper or improve our operating environments?
- employment law - does it adequately support LGBT employees and/or owners ? Could it do more to help people living with HIV back to work?
- goods & services - do anti-discrimination laws serve us well, ( eg: do laws affecting Christian B&Bs also affect exclusively-gay operations) ?
- access to finance - are LGBT businesses discriminated against by banks and other institutions?
- sub contracting - are larger businesses ( eg: Diversity Champion or Equality Index companies) encouraged to work with smaller suppliers (like GBA members)?
- government policy / taxation - do policies adversely affect LGBT enterprises in unique ways?
- moral issues - how do we feel about potential EU reforms, eg: to sale of pornography?
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You don't need to respond to every area listed above, but we would appreciate feedback on the issues specifically affecting your business.
Many thanks
Stephen Coote
Director
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GAY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
The LGBT Professional Network for the UK
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BM GBA, London, WC1N 3XX
Tel 0844 562 4005
hello@gba.org.uk
http://www.gba.org.uk
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