Feb 2008
In their efforts to become more efficient, Scottish local authorities must avoid the traps that English local government has fallen into, a leading efficiency expert has warned
Jan 2008
The Scottish Public Sector is facing the toughest financial climate for many years and local authorities will need to find new approaches to delivering greater efficiency. Relying on the tried and tested will no longer be an option for many, but where should local authorities go to get the right knowledge to help them prepare for this step change?
Feb 2007
SPS is an acknowledged leader in procurement classification and coding structures and their implementation into IT systems. We are pleased to see that the London Centre of Excellence is leading the way on the introduction of a new procurement classification (not coding) standard for local government (and others that wish to use it). It is called ProClass and has been developed and trialled over the last two years across local authorities.
Feb 2007
The CRS (developed by NIP Ltd.) has now been successfully adopted across the London Boroughs following an earlier implementation by the Procurement Agency for Essex (PAE). All boroughs have registered users on the system allowing them read and search access to not only their own contracts but also to those of other LCE authorities. To date over 1,400 contracts have been loaded by the London Boroughs as well as over 370 by the OGC Buying Solutions (these OGCBS contracts are available for everyone to view at www.contractsregister.com).
Feb 2007
For many people, gaining better deals from ICT expenditure is now about using e-Auctions or outsourcing to an ICT partner. In reality, these opportunities are often time limited or short term. For over five years SPS, with its partners, has been running two training programmes looking at the purchasing decisions and project management issues that can make a positive difference to cost reduction, the quality of services delivered and the relationships with any outsource providers and consultants.
Feb 2007
Read more about our comprehensive set of education and training programmes to support organisations wishing to undertake their own spend analysis.
Oct 2005
The London Centre of Excellence has been working with recognised experts (including SPS) to develop pan-London strategies for a wide range of topical procurement issues.
Oct 2005
In the last 12 months (as at Oct 2005) gas prices have risen nationally by approximately 70-90% and electricity by some 20-30% (Source ‘Supply Management’ Oct, 2005.). According to PAE spend analysis Essex Councils spent approximately £18 million in the last financial year on electricity and gas and this figure could rise to £25 million if increases continue at the same rate.
Between April and July 2005 the PAE commissioned leading energy consultants John Hall & Associates to benchmark their existing energy management operation.
Oct 2005
The two architects behind the creation of the highly successful Procurement Agency for Essex (PAE) and Essex Marketplace have now formed a new business alliance to help other groups of collaboration minded public sector organisations gain Gain a Fast Track to Collaborative Success (PDF 113kb).
Oct 2005
As little as 20 suppliers can account for over 80% of an organisation’s influenceable external expenditure. So the capability to strike good deals and improve existing contracts by negotiating from a position of strength is critical. Introducing ‘e’ technologies and undertaking process re-engineering delivers only a small fraction of the savings and service improvements that can come from real strategic supplier engagement. A few global organisations understand this proposition, but for most in the UK it is either perceived as too complex or simply not recognised at all.
May 2005
We are pleased to draw readers’ attention to the excellent procurement guide produced by Clackmannanshire Council in conjunction with consultancy company TQMI.
May 2005
The PAE is now over one year old and has demonstrated how collaborative procurement can really work.
Oct 2004
The ODPM IEG (Implementing e-Government) 2005 statement requires that each local authority in England produce an on-line ’selling to the public sector guide’ by the end of the year.
Oct 2004
SPS is pleased to offer a special fixed price service to help public sector organisations rapidly identify where they can make cash and efficiency savings, either directly or through collaborating with others.
April 2004
SPS has recently completed a set of guidance papers for the National e-Procurement Project (NePP). The aim of this project is to help local authorities hit their 2005 targets for electronic service delivery through better use of procurement technologies.
April 2004
This is the controversial new title of a new document shortly to be published by SOPO. Commissioned by SOPO and written by Ken Cole, it assesses the relative value of e-Commerce to public sector organisations and assesses their ability to meet central targets. It also takes a hard-hitting view of the benefits of 'e' adoption claimed by suppliers.
Oct 2003
Sustainable sourcing now features high on the Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda. However, for many organisations already struggling to make their IT systems support the demands of the modern procurement office, it remains an aspiration supported mainly by paper based systems.
Oct 2003
Following from the highly successful deployment of our fixed price volume/value analysis service package, SPS is pleased to announce the recent and successful launch of a follow on Targeted Savings and Benefits Realisation programme.
May 2003
The EU Public Procurement Directives have always had a bad press from both sides of the buyer/seller relationship. For many suppliers they create too much paperwork and impede the relationship and for many buyers in the public sector they create delay, delivering little additional value in the drive for best value for money.