An ambitious and innovative value supply chain is essential to our operations. Suppliers play a crucial part in meeting the needs of our customers, so it’s only right that we invest in, and nurture, strong, lasting relationships.
Thales in the UK engages with suppliers and supply chains from around the world, but around 85% of them are right here in the UK. Sourcing locally is just one of the ways we contribute sustainably to our economy and jobs market, including supporting Small Medium Enterprises.
We spend around £750 million a year with our suppliers. We don’t just procure from them; we provide best in class development support to help them grow, improve and become more competitive. Our Supplier Development Managers support our suppliers to improve their capability and maturity, and also help many of them through the UK SC21 programme, which is aimed at creating world class supply chains for the UK aerospace and defence sectors.
Certifications, laws and regulations are critical to our operations at Thales in the UK, and we expect our suppliers to adhere to them with the same level of care. We are a member of the UN Global Compact Network, which defines and implements social regulations to foster “a more beneficial relationship between business and society”. In line with our member commitments, we only work with reputable suppliers who support our ethical policies and values, and uphold our cultural commitments.
You can download a copy of this presentation from the Documents area at the bottom of this page.
Sustainability Guide
Thales in the UK places sustainable procurement and corporate responsibility at the heart of its operations. This guide is to assist suppliers in applying sustainability principles and understanding the impacts, risks and opportunities within the supply chain process.
You can download a copy of the guide here.

Code of Ethics
In the spirit of Thales’s core values, the present Code of Ethics lays down the guidelines of behaviour applicable within the Group, towards employees, customers, suppliers, subcontractors and partners, shareholders, financial markets, as well as towards society as a whole.
Download a full copy of the Code here.


Responsibility in Action
When serious about acting responsibly, good intentions are simply not enough. Having recognised this for some time, we progressively embed corporate sustainability and responsibility in all our business processes…
You can download a copy of the report here.

Counterfeit Fraudulent and Suspect Items
Thales and its suppliers, subcontractors and distributors must be able to demonstrate that they have conducted the necessary due diligence when sourcing material and have taken care to prevent fraudulent and counterfeit material from entering our supply chain.
Find out more about counterfeit avoidance here.