Latest News

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Efficiency: Scottish local authorities are warned to avoid English mistakes

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

Implementing McClelland - An Innovative Approach to Delivering Efficiency Through Collaboration

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?

Expenditure Analysis

Feb 2007

Read more about our comprehensive set of education and training programmes to support organisations wishing to undertake their own spend analysis.

Getting More from ICT Expenditure

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.

The Pan London Contracts Register Service (CRS)

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 3,200 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

ProClass – the New Face of Procurement Classification

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.

London Centre of Excellence Strategy Papers

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.

The Procurement Agency for Essex Evaluate Options for Energy Procurement

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.

SPS and egs in Joint Services Offering

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).

Unlocking Real Cash Savings

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.

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