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Becoming a Vitality supplier

Find out who we are and how to become a Vitality supplier.

Who we are 

We offer a unique brand of health insurance, life insurance and investments. We’re part of Discovery Holdings, a worldwide group protecting over seven million members in 19 countries worldwide, across Europe, the United States, Australia, South Africa, Canada and China. 

We have four UK sites: London, Bournemouth, Stockport and Croydon, with over 1,800 staff.

There’s no other insurance and investment provider quite like Vitality. We have a core purpose to make people healthier, to enhance and protect their lives. We put this into practice through our Shared-Value business model, based on the scientifically proven principles of behavioural economics. 

This positively different approach enables you to take a more active role in managing your own physical and mental wellness, by encouraging the development of healthy long-term habits. 

What we believe in

  • Great people

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    We think our people are the most important part of our organisation, so we make sure they feel special from the day they join to the day they leave.  Our drive to succeed creates a fast paced, performance led environment where people are rewarded for their contribution and achievements.

  • Liberating the best in our people

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    We value each person’s unique talents and skills and we look for people who have the ability to think differently and bring our ideas to life. We know that people flourish and do their best when they have the freedom to play with their creativity and believe that anything is possible. 

  • Intellectual leadership

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    We’ve always known that if we want to stand out we have to be that company that does things differently. Our approach to health is grounded in science and we know that to be leaders in our field we need to continuously gain knowledge.

  • Innovation and optimism

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    We’re well known for our innovative products and this is rooted in a culture of creativity and exploration. We believe that it’s better to try and fail than to not try at all and always wonder what might have happened if we’d only been braver.

  • Business astuteness and prudence

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    We do things differently but we also know that we need to balance this with the needs of the business and of our customers. We understand the risks and we make sound decisions based on this knowledge but we don’t get tied up in red tape.

  • Dazzle clients

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    We believe that every interaction we have with a customer is an opportunity to create a lifelong fan of our company. We don’t settle for satisfied customers, we want customers who are bowled over by the service and products they get from us. 

  • Drive, tenacity and urgency

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    We never stand still, we’re always looking forward at how we can take our business and ourselves to the next level. Our people have a belief that anything is possible and we strive to achieve the very best, anything less simply isn’t an option.

  • Integrity, honesty and fairness

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    Every decision we make is underpinned by these values so that we can always ensure that we do the right thing for our customers, our colleagues, our suppliers and our business. For us, integrity, honesty and fairness come before anything else, including financial gain.

Suppliers and Vitality

  • Strategic sourcing

    Strategic sourcing

    Choosing the best possible suppliers and putting commercially favourable contracts in place that mitigate risk, secure value for money, and encourage innovation.

  • Supplier management

    Supplier management

    Managing contracts, performance, and key supplier relationships characterised by trust, quality and innovation.

  • Supplier risk management

    Supplier risk management

    Managing sources of risk throughout the relationship lifecycle. Ensuring that supplier actions and behaviours don’t inhibit our ability to serve our members.

Supplier risk management

Depending on the nature of the services provided, we focus on a supplier’s:

  • Ownership and shareholdings
  • Ethical standards
  • Financial solvency
  • Business resilience
  • Information Security framework
  • Employee vetting practices
  • Insurance coverage
  • Sub-contracting arrangements
  • Environmental practices


What are we looking for in a supplier?

To support our vision of being the best insurer in the UK, we look for suppliers who can show: 

Cultural fit – We pride ourselves in being positively different, so ensuring your business and ours are able to work well together is essential.

Compliance – We have high ethical standards and are accountable to the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) for regulatory compliance.

Excellence – We aim to provide excellent service right through the supply chain, to ensure we deliver the highest quality to our members.

Added value – We expect our suppliers to identify and introduce process improvements and cost-effective sustainable solutions wherever possible.

Expertise and industry knowledge – Our suppliers should be industry experts and provide us with advice, guidance and support in their field.

Innovation and continuous improvement – Our suppliers should challenge our current processes and look for a better way of working more efficiently. 

A responsible and positive attitude – We expect our suppliers to act with integrity at all times.

On-boarding – a new supplier’s story

How did you find the selection and tender process?

The background to both Vitality as an organisation and the business objectives the Tender was intended to support, as well as the Tender submission criteria, functional requirements, procurement process, and Tender timelines were all clearly stated within the document, and both the Sourcing Team and Business Sponsor(s) managing the process made themselves readily available to answer all clarification questions as required.

What was your on-boarding experience like?

We found the on-boarding experience to become an approved supplier for Vitality straightforward and quick and were supported throughout the process by the Vitality Sourcing Team as required.

What is your perception of Vitality?

 

At each contact the Vitality Team have proven to be quick and decisive in their responses to questions asked and to be willing to take a pragmatic approach where necessary. As an organisation overall, all the Vitality staff we have interacted with have shown themselves to be thoroughly professional and courteous.

 

Summary

Since we began working with Vitality, we have been impressed by the overall approach we have experienced with regards to how Vitality view suppliers as key enablers of their business, and how Vitality staff enter into all discussions with a 'business partnership first' mind set.
Frazer McKenzie, BookingBug Ltd

Rewarding our suppliers

For the past two years, we’ve held a Supplier & Partner Awards ceremony, where we reward those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. We also use this as an opportunity to brief suppliers on performance, future plans and how our supply chain can help us achieve our vision.
“It was fantastic to hear from so many key people within Vitality, giving us a very valuable insight into the company goals and values. The event really helps us all see and understand how we fit into that ecosystem and help Vitality to achieve those goals. All speakers spoke with such enthusiasm and passion for the Vitality brand, which was wonderful to see and feel part of”

Clair Woodward, Ultima Business Solutions Ltd

The feedback we have received from the event, such as the above, has been outstanding, so we hosted or third event in November 2019. 

Coming soon

We’re currently developing a portal for existing suppliers to log into and keep in touch. You’ll be able to register your interest here soon, but for now, please email: sourcing@vitality.co.uk.

In the meantime, you can keep up to date with the latest Vitality news and tips with our Vitality Magazine.

Find out more
Interested in becoming a Vitality supplier?

Please fill in our prospective supplier form.

Prospective supplier form
Are you an existing Vitality supplier?

You can access our terms and conditions, and accounts payable system in the links below.

Web-based accounts payable system Supplier terms and conditions

Supplier Code of Conduct

Competition and Anti-trust

We expect our suppliers to only seek competitive advantage in a legal manner, in a way that does not seek to prevent, restrict or distort competition within the common market or a substantial part of it. This includes not sharing information (including pricing information) or agreements with competitors, customers, suppliers or other third parties in any way that could be deemed as anti-competitive.

Conflicts of Interest

We expect our suppliers, and anyone acting on their behalf, to avoid any conflicts of interest that may adversely influence their business relationship with us. Where a conflict does arise suppliers must inform us as soon as possible.

Bribery & Corruption

We expect our suppliers to not offer any form of gift or hospitality to a Vitality employee for the purposes of influencing any business decision. All of our suppliers must conduct themselves to the highest ethical standards and comply with relevant legislation on bribery, corruption and prohibited business practice, particularly the UK Bribery Act, 2010.

Financial Crime

We expect our suppliers to take appropriate measures to prevent themselves from being used as a channel for financial crime. This includes taking steps to protect against fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, or any other form of financial crime.

Business Continuity Planning

We expect our suppliers to be prepared for any disruptions to their business (e.g. natural disasters, terrorism, software viruses, illness, pandemic, infectious diseases). This includes having documented business continuity plans which are regularly tested for effectiveness.

Data

We expect our suppliers to take all possible measures to protect Vitality personal data when accessing, transferring, processing or storing it. This includes observing all local legislation at all times. Where an issue regarding Vitality’s personal data does arise the supplier must inform us as soon as possible. We expect our suppliers to retain business records pertaining to our relationship for the required amount of time, as set out in local legislation. Records should accurately reflect all business transactions. We expect our suppliers to return or safely dispose of any data at the end of our relationship.

Employment Standards

We expect our suppliers to operate to the highest standards when it comes to looking after their employees.

Freedom of Association: We expect our suppliers to maintain constructive relationships with their employees. This includes observing local legislation regarding collective representation.

Diversity and equality: We expect our suppliers to treat, reward, and protect all of their employees equally regardless of race, colour, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Workplace: We expect our suppliers to provide a working environment free from harassment, verbal, visual, physical abuse or any behaviour that creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile workplace.

Pay and benefits: We expect our suppliers to observe local regulations on pay and benefits. At a minimum this must be sufficient to meet basic needs of employees and their families.

Working hours: We expect our suppliers to observe local regulations on working hours. This includes ensuring that employees receive entitlement to annual leave and are permitted to at least one non-working day per seven days on average.

Forced or involuntary labour: We expect our suppliers to only employ people who have freely chosen to work, in line with the Modern Slavery Act, 2015. Therefore our suppliers must not engage in any form of human trafficking or forced, involuntary or debt bonded labour.

Child labour: We expect suppliers to avoid at all times the use of child labour. All local regulations regarding child labour must be observed. No person under the age of 15 (or where it is higher, the local mandatory school leaving age) must be employed. We expect suppliers who employ juveniles (individuals younger than 18 but higher than the legal minimum age) to observe the ILO Minimum Age Convention No. 138. This ensures that juveniles do not undertake work that may put their health, safety, or morals at risk. It is also expected that juveniles will not work overtime or at night.

Referencing: We expect our suppliers to undertake reasonable measures to ensure their employees have a legal right to work in that country.

Health, Safety and Environment

We expect our suppliers to maintain a safe and hygienic working environment that ensures the health, safety and welfare of their people, visitors and contractors. This would be delivered through a formal health and safety management system such as Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001. We also expect our suppliers to commit to good environmental practices, such as seeking energy efficiency and reducing waste. This should be delivered via an environmental management system that meets the standards set out in ISO 14001.

Proprietary Information

We expect our suppliers to treat any information shared during our relationship to remain confidential and never used for personal or commercial gain.

Government, Media and Investor Relations

We expect our suppliers to not make any form of public announcement or statement to the government, media or investors without our prior written consent (except where required by law or regulation). This also extends to any use of the Vitality brand.

Communities

We expect our suppliers to recognise their responsibilities to the communities in which they operate their businesses. We encourage our suppliers to contribute to the social and economic development of these communities.

Communications & Training

We expect our suppliers to communicate this Code to their employees and to ensure it is fully understood. This includes providing any necessary training to its employees to ensure full adherence to this Code. We expect our suppliers to communicate and enforce this Code with any subcontractors and business partners who have responsibilities for fulfilling your contract with us.

Compliance with the Supplier Code of Conduct

We expect our suppliers to monitor their own compliance with the Code. This includes maintaining documentation that shows your compliance to this Code. If you know of any actual or potential breaches please report them as soon as possible to sourcing@vitality.co.uk. Vitality also reserves the right, upon reasonable notice, to check your compliance with this Code. Failure to adhere to this Code is considered a material breach of contract and may result in termination of your contract.