White Paper on the challenge for public procurement; and Amex seminar

October 21, 2010

I have written a White Paper, sponsored by American Express, looking at the challenges for public procurement given the current economic situation (and of course the Spending Review).  It looks at what public procurement needs to deliver, the risks if the wrong steps are taken, and what procurement can and should be doing to drive [...]

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Procurement – how Jon Harvey sees us (and it ain’t good…!)

October 20, 2010

I enjoyed this piece from Jon Harvey about his experience of being on the receiving end of procurement processes, even though it made me laugh and wince at times as a member of the procurement profession!  His ironic guide for procurement people describes how we should:
“Make sure that the PQQ is at least 65 pages [...]

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Spending Review – live blog

October 20, 2010

Live comments – with a procurement angle – from the Spending Review.  My commentary in italics
Savings from central Government ‘Whitehall Admin’ to be greater than thought.  Admin in all Departments cut by a third at least.  £6 billion a year saving.  How much of that will come from staff versus suppliers? Redundancies inevitable – but [...]

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Spending Review today – and CPO Agenda article on public procurement

October 20, 2010

A lot of what we have heard about the Spending Review has been around things that aren’t being cut – schools, defence not as much as expected, Crossrail, Social care etc.  So far, the numbers don’t seem to add up.  So I predict a couple of big surprises today – stuff that hasn’t been written [...]

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Michael Whitby takes over at Lloyds TSB

October 19, 2010

After Caroline Booth’s departure to be a Mountie, Lloyds TSB have selected a young, untried professional as their new CPO – Supply Management had the scoop here. Mike Whitby is just 33 and only shaves on a Sunday…
OK, let’s get real.  Lloyds have gone for a guy with vast experience, from my generation of procurement [...]

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An open letter to Sepp Blatter and FIFA

October 19, 2010

Dear Mr Blatter
The allegations of bribery around voting for the World Cup are unwelcome and serious.  So it would seem to be an appropriate time to look at how FIFA might apply the principles of good procurement practice to the venue selection process?   Practices used by the public sector are particularly appropriate, although in truth [...]

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Procurement News – all UK Public Sector stuff today

October 18, 2010

Less Re:source for the NHS
The East Midlands NHS Procurement Hub is to be abolished, Procurement Leaders reports (an ‘exclusive’ for them – haven’t seen this elsewhere). They report:
“Following a rigorous appraisal of collaborative procurement in the National Health Service (NHS) across the UK’s East Midlands the decision has been made to disband the provider [...]

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Meeting Trade Extensions – Howzat!

October 18, 2010

I had a phone call the other day.
“Hi, this is Garry.  I’m MD of Trade Extensions, we know Jason at Spend Matters and he suggested we should call you and introduce ourselves”.
Great – good to speak.
“But I think we might know each other.  Did you run the Mars Confectionery cricket team in the late 80’s? [...]

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OGC and Cabinet Office – the plot thickens (again…)

October 18, 2010

The Cabinet Office has published organagrams for UK Government Departments including salaries, number of positions at different levels and so on. All very interesting, if somewhat opaque in places.
The Cabinet Office itself, and the Efficiency and Reform Group within it,  was obviously the first one I looked at, as the current ‘home’ of Government procurement.
And [...]

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Local sourcing, Walmart, and Felicity Kendall’s legs….

October 17, 2010

Did you see strictly Come Dancing? (Not that I watch it usually of course, just happened to be passing etc etc…) Do you realise that Felicity Kendall, and I’m being a little ungallant here, is older than Anne Widdecombe!!  Wikipedia her if you want to know the details.  Kendall’s performance would have been impressive [...]

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