Women in Purchasing!!

Some of the world’s biggest companies have been commended for buying services from women-owned businesses.

A record high of 21 firms were named in an annual list of the best US firms for supporting vendors owned or run by women. These suppliers are recognised in the US as minority businesses. The list is produced by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

The awards included telecoms firm AT&T, which spent more than $6 billion (£3.8 billion) with such suppliers last year, and computer manufacturer Dell, which spent more than $2.5 billion (£1.6 billion) with minority vendors in 2008. Both companies said women-owned businesses were critical to their supply chain strategies.

Ernst & Young, Marriott International, Microsoft and the Home Depot were recognised by the WBENC for the first time since the awards were created 11 years ago.

“This expanding list demonstrates that best practices prevail in even the most challenging environments,” said Linda Denny, president and CEO of WBENC.

An awards presentation for the companies recognised in the list will take place on 25 March.