National Grid Named Among "Best of the Best" for Supplier Diversity

. (09/14/2011)(readMedia)-- National Grid has been named a 2011 "Best of the Best" winner by Black EOE Journal for its supplier diversity program. It is the first time National Grid has been named to the list.

National Grid joins 50 top supplier diversity companies selected by Olive Tree Publishing Inc., the publisher of Black EOE Journal, after a confidential comprehensive review of their diversity plan and policies. National Grid is the only East Coast utility earning the recognition.

"In 2009 National Grid moved to make supplier diversity a priority by enhancing our program through our outreach and training to creating powerful partnerships with diverse suppliers," said Tom King, president, National Grid U.S. "It is an honor to be recognized by the magazine and a tribute to our efforts to make significant improvements in our supplier diversity program in a short period of time."

Since National Grid revamped its supplier diversity program in 2009, the company has developed a Supplier Diversity Policy to support its strategy and goals and diverse spend increased to more than $600 million in fiscal year 2010/2011, which includes about $250 million spent with minority and women-owned suppliers. Also, about 750 diverse suppliers were added to the company's data base, including a significant number of certified minority and women-owned businesses. In addition, the company encourages prime suppliers to award ten percent of their contracts to diverse suppliers.

Also, National Grid partners with key organizations to provide contracting opportunities for certified minority and women-owned firms in its service area including the American Association of Blacks in Energy, Asian Women in Business, Association of Minority Enterprises of New York, Edison Electric Institute, Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Jamaica Business Resource Center, National Minority Supplier Development Council, National Veteran-Owned Business Association, New York and New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, The Elite Service

Disabled Veteran Owned Business Network, Upstate Regional Minority Purchasing Council, and Women Presidents' Educational Organization-New York Chapter. Earlier this year, National Grid became a founding partner of the New York City Mayor's Corporate Alliance Program.

In an effort to further develop its supplier diversity program, National Grid is partnering with the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce and its School of Management. The company sponsors chamber executives to attend the USBC School to help them build skills to facilitate small business growth and promote economic development.

The Black EOE Journal "Best of the Best" diversity survey includes the evaluation of data from independent research organizations, market research, public information, 10-K annual reports, survey responses, interviews and the Black EOE Journal Research Division. The Top Supplier Diversity Programs are selected by a comprehensive study of each program and policies to include the development of disadvantaged business owner partnerships and the procurement process.

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.

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