Kier Strengthens Sustainable Procurement Implementation

Discover how Action Sustainability is helping Kier further implement sustainable procurement, and strengthen their implementation in sourcing, and contract management via the ISO 20400 framework.

The Challenge

Having undertaken the ISO 20400 Evaluation in 2025, Kier Group (Kier) were seeking support in implementing some of the recommendations.

To align with ISO 20400, Kier needed to further embed identification of gaps, risks and opportunities across procurement, sourcing and contract management processes at both divisional and project level. They were also seeking to ensure all of Kier had a guide for responsible sourcing and to provide the same visibility of their sustainability requirements to their supply chain.

Action Sustainability’s assessment, Heat mapping workshop and support with the Responsible Sourcing Guide will help Kier consistently embed sustainability considerations across divisions and with their supply chains.

Our Approach

Document Review & Evaluation for ISO 20400 evaluation: We conducted a desktop review of Kier’s procurement documents and performed 1:1 deep dive stakeholder interviews with key stakeholders. Findings were compiled into a report with recommendations for improvement. The evaluation, based on the ISO 20400 framework, provided insights into how well Kier integrates sustainability objectives into procurement practices

Heat Mapping: to ensure the outcomes of the annual ESG workshop and the 3 pillars: Our People, Our Places, Our Planet is embedded into the procurement process, we conducted an online heat mapping workshop. It involved active participation from relevant key internal stakeholders from Kier’s procurement and sustainability teams. This gave Kier a clearer basis for prioritising sustainability risks and opportunities across key sub-categories, helping teams focus effort where it could have the greatest impact.

Responsible Sourcing Guide: Action Sustainability reviewed and provided advice to Kier in the development of this guide. It has been designed as a practical resource for both Kier’s Procurement team and supply chain partners. bringing together and communicating the sustainability priorities and outcomes from the annual ESG workshops, the Preferred Supplier List (PSL), and category-specific deep-dive reviews, including HVO, solar panels, contingent labour, and batteries.

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Working with Action Sustainability has strengthened how Kier embeds sustainable procurement in a practical, scalable way. The ISO 20400 re‑evaluation and heat mapping has sharpened our focus on priority risks and opportunities, while their review and guidance on our Responsible Sourcing Guide helped consolidate our requirements into a clear, aligned framework. This will improve consistency across sourcing and contract management and strengthen engagement with our supply chain, supporting our ambition to deliver meaningful ESG outcomes.

Lindsay Cooper Head of Indirect Procurement – Kier

The Results & Impact

The re-evaluation showed measurable progress in how Kier embeds sustainable procurement, with clearer guidance, stronger internal alignment and more consistent sustainability expectations across sourcing and contract management, during the period between the ISO 20400 evaluations. From trials with OEMs to proposing and driving sustainability design changes in supplier products, Kier’s culture of innovation has driven considerable sustainability improvements. It has also enabled teams to proactively drive sustainability where they see fit.

Kier are at the forefront of external engagement and collaboration. A driving force behind the Supply Chain Sustainability School, they are seen as a positive force in the market.

Kier now has an aligned Responsible Sourcing guide that contains all the sustainability requirements, tools and guidance in one place for the procurement teams. It ties in the Preferred Supplier’s List, the outcomes of the annual ESG workshops and the guides for the various commodities and purchases such as HVO, Solar Panels, Labour, Batteries.

The heat map provides Kier with a ‘live’ document that the procurement and category management team can use in the sourcing and tendering stages going forward. The workshop report and recommendations will support Kier in embedding sustainability earlier and more consistently across PQQs, ITTs and contract clauses, helping procurement teams turn sustainability priorities into practical requirements.