Implementing supplier diversity in the UK: SDEM as mindful policy transfer

This paper draws on the policy transfer literature to examine a UK-based initiative to
promote supplier diversity and provides insights to three areas neglected in current
research. Namely: the dynamics of non-governmental policy transfer; the factors that
mediate policy transfer in different jurisdictions; and the integration of research and
practice in small business related policy transfer. To this end, an innovative action
research approach is deployed with the dual purpose of effecting practical change and
advancing knowledge. This comprises two phases: first, a realist analysis of the US
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), an exemplar intermediary,
and second the implementation of a supplier diversity initiative modelled on NMSDC,
referred to as 'Supplier Development East Midlands' (SDEM). The findings provide
lessons for academics and practitioners.