Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

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.
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Develop your procurement skills with HEPA training: 2014-15 dates announced

HEPA (Higher Education Procurement Academy) training dates have now been confirmed, with 10 courses across 5 locations during 2014-15.

GeM – the online store for HE and FE

eMarketplace and contracts repository for Higher and Further Education sectors offering sector negotiated and approved contracts.

Procurement as a strategic asset – report for Efficiency Exchange – July 2013

Report commissioned by the Efficiency Exchange to gather material to showcase the strategic value of procurement to the sector and how it can raise its profile, especially at senior leadership levels.

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.

Tony Newjem: adding value at Heriot-Watt

The impact of procurement departments on university's spending is well-known. But as Tony Newjem of Heriot-Watt University explains, as well as saving money they can also add value through their work across the university.

Smarter procurement is needed for sustainability

Improved procurement could be the secret to balancing the sector’s books in tough times, Nick Petford and Andy Davies suggest. With income falling for the first time and predictions of mounting pressure on surpluses, smarter procurement could be the key to a more sustainable form of higher education in England. Read the full post on THE (subscription required)
HEPA procurment e-learning

Raising the status of procurement in higher education

Procurement has the potential to play a major role for universities by maximising investment and supporting the strategic objectives of institutional leaders. Emma Keenan describes how the Higher Education Procurement Academy (HEPA) is helping to raise the status of procurement within universities.

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.

SUPC – supporting sustainability procurement

While sustainable procurement is no easy task, it is becoming increasingly important to higher education institutions in the UK. As a key service provider of collaborative procurement solutions to the higher education sector, SUPC is exploring ways to support members in the procurement of goods and services that provide value for money, benefit society and the economy, while also minimising damage to the environment.