Why reuse beats recycling for efficiency
Universities are saving tens of thousands of pounds in procurement costs by reusing and repairing equipment rather than throwing it away or recycling it, according to a network promoting the reuse of business assets.
Consorting with the consortia – the 30% target
You might think there is nothing new about collaborative procurement in higher education. After all, there are six main procurement consortia based in England that have been working with institutions for some years. They help with collaborative procurement among institutions and between HE and other sectors.
What is new is that there’s a target to hit, as set by the Diamond Report on Efficiency and Modernisation. By 2016, it is expected that 30% of non-pay spend should be through effective collaborative arrangements.
That’s a tough target, and it raises a number of questions.
Three posts on efficiency from leading speakers at last week’s conference
The 4th annual efficiency conference was held on Wednesday 25 March, with more than 20 speakers from across the higher education sector. Here are three blogposts written for Efficiency Exchange by three of the star speakers from the Universities UK event.
Procurement: a guide for governors
In order to achieve a successful procurement model it is important to win over not only those who work in procurement but all employees in an organisation. This guide examines the role of governors in in overseeing procurement, part of their responsibility in ensuring universities achieve value for money.
HEPA professional development courses: limited spaces are still available
The Higher Education Procurement Academy (HEPA) still has some limited spaces available on the following professional development courses:
Introduction to Procurement – 3 December, London
Practical...
Introducing the Higher Education Procurement Academy
The Higher Education Procurement Academy aims to be a centre of excellence for advanced procurement capability and professional development, built by the sector, for the sector.
New chief for SUPC as it explores collaboration options
Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC) has appointed Simon Hill to the role of interim head in advance of a review that will examine how SUPC and London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC) can work more closely together. Hill, who has experience of change management in the private and not for profit sectors, starts in September at SUPC, which has agreed a collaboration project brief with LUPC outlining background and objectives for the review.
Could a cashless campus be more efficient?
Could going cashless on campus form part of an efficient business model for HE institutions? In a blog for University Business Steve Simmons, an accountant at the University of Birmingham, explains how a cashless payment pilot is working out.
LUPC annual conference – 26 March
LUPC's annual conference and exhibition will take place on Thursday 26 March 2015 at Senate House, London. The conference will be FREE for LUPC Members to attend.
Procurement UK Discussion Paper – April 2013
Procurement UK, formed to drive forward the procurement agenda in higher education, publishes its initial Discussion Paper for review and comment.
