Guidance to our tender process

The University of York is a university for public good, It envisions a future where knowledge empowers positive change, fostering a community committed to intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, and societal impact. With a purpose rooted in advancing understanding and addressing global challenges, the university is striving to create an environment where all individuals can thrive and contribute to the betterment of society.

The University is guided by principles of environmental sustainability, collaboration across multidisciplinary boundaries, internationalism, and equity, diversity and inclusion. We aim to provide education that empowers, conduct curiosity-driven and action orientated research, commit locally on a global scale to build strong collaborative partnerships, and create a community without limits.

The University of York is deeply committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across all aspects of its operations. Our approach to EDI is grounded in proactive measures that prioritise creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We employ comprehensive strategies to attract and retain a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, ensuring representation from varied backgrounds and perspectives. Through targeted initiatives, training programs, and robust support mechanisms, we actively challenge biases, dismantle barriers, and promote equitable opportunities for all. Our commitment to EDI extends beyond our campus, as we collaborate with external partners and stakeholders to advance social justice and create positive societal impact. At the University of York, EDI is not just a goal but a fundamental principle that shapes everything we do, driving innovation, excellence, and inclusive excellence.

The University of York is dedicated to leading the charge in sustainability and achieving net-zero emissions. Environmental sustainability is one of our core principles and we're embedding sustainable thinking across all areas of the University. Researchers at York collaborate across disciplines to help shape a more sustainable future for us all, addressing unprecedented global challenges in environmental, social and economic sustainability. With a clear roadmap and measurable targets, we are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility and creating a more sustainable future for all. York is ranked 29th globally and in the top 10 of UK Universities in the QS Sustainability rankings.

The University of York embraces digital technologies as a cornerstone of its educational and operational strategies, enhancing the learning experience, facilitating research excellence, and optimising administrative processes. Our approach leverages cutting-edge digital tools and platforms to deliver innovative teaching and learning methods, fostering engagement and collaboration among students and faculty. From virtual classrooms and online resources, to research databases and collaborative workspaces, we harness the power of digital technologies to extend the reach of education and advance knowledge discovery. Moreover, our commitment to accessibility ensures that digital resources are inclusive and equitable, catering to diverse learning needs. With a forward-thinking mindset and a robust infrastructure, the University of York is at the forefront of harnessing digital technologies to transform education, research, and administration, driving continuous improvement and innovation.

The University of York stands out for its distinct specialities across various fields, bolstered by its exceptional technical and professional expertise. In areas such as biomedical sciences, environmental sustainability, and digital innovation, our faculty members are internationally recognised leaders, contributing groundbreaking research and practical solutions to global challenges. With strengths in fields like archaeology, economics, and literature, our institution offers unparalleled depth and breadth of expertise, enriching academic discourse and driving real-world impact.

Our faculty members are renowned experts in their respective fields, bringing cutting-edge research and practical insights to the forefront of academic inquiry. Complemented by experienced professional staff who excel in their specialised roles, our institution is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive support and guidance across a spectrum of endeavours. Whether through collaborative research projects, consultancy services, or tailored training programs, our technical and professional experts offer invaluable knowledge and skills that drive innovation, excellence, and success. With a rich tapestry of talent and a commitment to excellence, the University
of York stands ready to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by any tender bid.

The University of York has a zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. Its Code of Practice and Principles for Good Ethical Governance is followed when undertaking any academic activities. This is reinforced in the University’s Strategic Aims for delivering research for the public good. This Code gives particular consideration to activities conducted overseas or in collaboration with overseas partners, in countries or under regimes with poor human rights records or identified as unsafe or high risk by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Also, the University and its subsidiaries continue to identify and mitigate any risks of slavery or human trafficking arising from any supply chains or contracts.

The University perceives the main risk of slavery and human trafficking to be in the high spend supply chain areas of property management and construction, IT, laboratory supplies and catering. Through work on our supplier engagement tool, we are addressing each area in turn to look at the strategies our supply chain has in place to ensure the risk of slavery and human trafficking is minimised. We recognise that proper due diligence is essential to ensuring there is no human trafficking or slavery occurring in its supply chains. For that reason, it uses the NETpositive supplier engagement tool, and undertakes an engagement programme with its key suppliers in order
to address the risks associated with modern slavery and the actions in place to mitigate these risks.

The Living Wage applies to all University directly employed staff, as well as regularly contracted staff. The exact definition is those contracted staff who work two or more hours a week, for eight or more consecutive weeks a year. The Living Wage does not apply to contractors that supply our organisation with products, eg stationery suppliers.

The University became an Accredited real Living Wage employer in 2021. To support our continued commitment, we will be making a minor change to the University's pay structure to reflect the most recent uplift announced by the Living Wage Foundation and the new rate was implemented on 1 April 2024.