Merlin Standard - sub contracting01/02/2010
The development of the Merlin Standard has been progressed as a joint exercise between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its providers operating in the Welfare to Work (W2W) sector. There has also been active involvement from other government departments, including the Office of the Third Sector, the Commission for the Compact and from representative organisations within the industry.
The Merlin Standard has been designed to recognise and promote sustainable excellence and positive partnership working within supply chains and provide guidance to those seeking to achieve it. It is built upon four fundamental and integrated principles; Supply Chain Design, Commitment, Conduct and Review. These Principles have been designed to examine key areas of the relationship between a Prime Contractor (hereafter referred to as ‘Primes’) and its Supply Chain Partners. Criteria underpinning the principles also seek to review the role of Commissioning, including the procurement process, and how supply chain behaviour is affected by the behaviour of the Commissioner. The Principles are established to validate positive behaviour of Primes and supply chain partners in line with the Code of Conduct, a key facet of the Commissioning Strategy in creating healthy and high performing supply chains.