Managing suppliers and consultants can boost business performance, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

The professional body says external partners have valuable knowledge which is strategic to the organisation and often essential to the delivery of products and services.

The new case-study based report from the CIPD investigates ways of managing these third parties.

Angela Baron, CIPD organisation and resourcing adviser said: “Managing people who are strategically important to the success of the organisation but not necessarily directly employed is difficult to get right. But when done well it can really drive business performance.”