Procurement Award category winner: BBC

WINNER: BBC

About BBC

The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is a British public service broadcaster. It delivers programmes across a portfolio of television services, 10 UK-wide radio networks, digital services and global news services.

Issue

In many organisations, accessibility isn’t always embedded into procurement processes. It’s often viewed as a best-effort aspiration rather than a necessity.

Enforceable control can be lacking across large organisations, which might rely on guidance rather than hard procurement requirements, and depend on individual goodwill and advocacy to bring about change.

In cases where inclusive procurement is an afterthought, organisations might face costly post-purchase fixes and unintentionally create challenges for their disabled staff.

What they did

The BBC has re-engineered its procurement practice to ensure accessibility is embedded from the outset and sustained throughout the lifetime of technology contracts.

It integrated accessibility into its new PC3 Terms of Trade, providing a clear and consistent framework across all technology contracts and requiring suppliers to meet and maintain defined accessibility standards throughout the life of their engagement.

The BBC also introduced a formal accessibility gateway at the earliest stage of procurement. Software is challenged on accessibility from pre-qualification onwards. Where issues are identified, suppliers must agree on a time-bound accessibility improvement roadmap, embedded within the contract, and tracked across delivery.

A new team of BBC specialists supports the gateway, testing products and verifying supplier claims before any contract is signed.

Finally, to build shared understanding and responsibility across roles and disciplines, the BBC developed a specialist Accessible Procurement Training course, which is available to all its 22,000 staff.

Impact

Thanks to the new procurement process, disabled BBC staff experience fewer barriers, reduced reliance on workarounds, greater independence and improved productivity. They no longer carry the burden of having to request adjustments for tools that should be accessible by design.

Suppliers also report changes to product roadmaps, design decisions and testing practices as a result of having to meet BBC accessibility standards. This means that the BBC’s refreshed procurement practice is influencing the wider market, positioning accessibility as a baseline expectation beyond the organisation.

By embedding accessibility into standards, contracts, assessments and culture, the BBC has created a procurement system that delivers meaningful impact and sets a powerful precedent for inclusive procurement across the public sector and beyond.

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