Businesses looking to secure public sector contracts will need to do more to help improve society, the UK government is set to announce.
Ministers want firms to tackle issues like modern slavery and climate change.
The UK, which spends £49bn with outside organisations every year, will also try to award more contracts to small firms.
It is "morally right" for the UK to make certain demands of companies taking taxpayers' money, Cabinet Office minister David Lidington will say.
When drawing up public contracts, the government will now be looking at:
- Firms that employ people from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities and from ethnic minorities
- How companies reduce modern slavery and cyber-security risks in their supply chains
- that are focused on environmental sustainability
- Companies that boost employees' employability potential through staff training
However, the government stressed that the changes to public procurement would not add complexity or increased costs to the process.
