Procurement
Sustainable Procurement 2008
1st October 2008
London
The 2007 SDC Sustainable Development in Government report published on the 18 March 2008 reported on the government’s performance against its targets on Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) and the UK Government Sustainable Procurement Action Plan (SPAP).
The report showed that a small improvement had been made in the government’s overall performance against its key ‘eco’ commitments – including a four per cent fall in carbon emissions across the estate by the end of 2006/7. However, the Commission called on departments to urgently build on initiatives already taken to ensure targets can be met and to demonstrate that the government is leading by example on sustainability. Sustainable Procurement 2008 will examine the Government’s response to the SDC report, and the measures taken to improve sustainability on the government estate, and showcase best practice examples of departments that are already leading the way on sustainable procurement. Speakers:
- Jonathon Porritt, Director Forum for the Future, Chairman Sustainable Development Commission
- Barbara Morton, Director, Action Sustainability
- David Wathey, Sustainable Development Manager, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency
- William Jordon, Deputy Chief Executive, Office of Government Commerce
- Councillor Graham Stokes, Cabinet Member and Corporate Services Portfolio Holder
- Alan Kirkham, Service Director, Strategic Procurement and e-Services, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Cost:
PUBLIC SECTOR STANDARD RATES:
Register 1 delegate for just £249 + VAT
Register 2 delegates for just £225 + VAT (per delegate)
Register 3 delegates for just £199 + VAT (per delegate)
Voluntary/Charity Sector:
All delegates £149 + VAT
Private Sector:
All delegates £995.00 + VAT (Limited Availability) DISOUNT: For all public sector Forum for the Future members, we are offering a 20% discount from the standard rate, please quote ‘FFTF’ when booking to receive your discount.
How to Register:
Visit: www.govnet.co.uk/susproc
Call: Laura Marsh on 0161 211 3031
Email: laura.marsh@govnet.co.uk
Developing & Embracing Sustainable Procurement
The Civil Service must be fully committed to sustainable working, reflecting the increasing priority place on environmental responsibility by the public we serve. We must find new and innovative ways of raising the bar for sustainable working, planning and procurement.
The 2007 SDC Sustainable Development in Government report published on the 18 March 2008 reported on the government’s performance against its targets on Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) and the UK Government Sustainable Procurement Action Plan (SPAP).
The report showed that a small improvement had been made in the government’s overall performance against its key ‘eco’ commitments – including a four per cent fall in carbon emissions across the estate by the end of 2006/7. However, the Commission called on departments to urgently build on initiatives already taken to ensure targets can be met and to demonstrate that the government is leading by example on sustainability. Sustainable Procurement 2008 will examine the Government’s response to the SDC report, and the measures taken to improve sustainability on the government estate, and showcase best practice examples of departments that are already leading the way on sustainable procurement. Speakers:
- Jonathon Porritt, Director Forum for the Future, Chairman Sustainable Development Commission
- Barbara Morton, Director, Action Sustainability
- David Wathey, Sustainable Development Manager, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency
- William Jordon, Deputy Chief Executive, Office of Government Commerce
- Councillor Graham Stokes, Cabinet Member and Corporate Services Portfolio Holder
- Alan Kirkham, Service Director, Strategic Procurement and e-Services, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Cost:
PUBLIC SECTOR STANDARD RATES:
Register 1 delegate for just £249 + VAT
Register 2 delegates for just £225 + VAT (per delegate)
Register 3 delegates for just £199 + VAT (per delegate)
Voluntary/Charity Sector:
All delegates £149 + VAT
Private Sector:
All delegates £995.00 + VAT (Limited Availability) DISOUNT: For all public sector Forum for the Future members, we are offering a 20% discount from the standard rate, please quote ‘FFTF’ when booking to receive your discount.
How to Register:
Visit: www.govnet.co.uk/susproc
Call: Laura Marsh on 0161 211 3031
Email: laura.marsh@govnet.co.uk
Event organiser:
GovNet
Public / partnership:
Public Event
Event type:
Forum speaker
Buying a better world
Fiona Dowson, 5th March 2008, Projects
Our new report on sustainable public procurement, Buying a better world, is deliberately detailed. And there’s a good reason why. It’s clear that many public sector buyers now feel that considering the sustainability goals of their organisation, when making spending decisions, makes sense. However, our experiences with buyers over a number of years suggest that knowing how to do this in practice still remains a stumbling block.
There needs to be a shift from having the right policies in place and knowing it’s a good idea, to actually taking some bold spending decisions. Decisions that will contribute significantly to a better future for us all.
The report goes into some detail about practical actions that buyers can take to improve the sustainability of any area of spend. The accompanying Sustainable Procurement Toolkit, is designed tohelp public sector organisations start taking action straight away.
I was pleased to hear Nigel Smith, the new Chief Executive of the Office of Government Commerce, talking at the Public Sector Transformation Summit last week about how sustainability should be considered in government procurement. Being last on the agenda I was starting to worry that there would be nothing left for me to say – most other speakers had already highlighted the need to consider sustainability. The tide of opinion has turned…its now time to take action.
In some ways the collaborative buying organisations that are tasked with driving down costs in the public sector, have a real opportunity. It makes sense for them to source good value, sustainable solutions - saving their customers time and money. And, like most suppliers, they listen to their customers. If local authorities, NHS Trusts and government departments don’t start being choosy customers, don’t start asking both individual suppliers and collaborative buying organisations "what sustainable products do you offer in this category?", very little is going to change.
It is important to remember that if you don’t ask, you’re unlikely to get. Its unlikely that the the big names on the high street would have spent time and money examining their supply chains and sourcing Fairtrade clothing, recycled toilet roll and local food without consumer pressure. The public sector needs to start using its power as the biggest customer in the UK, to create a better world.
Buying a Better World
March 2008
With an annual procurement budget of around £160 billion, the public sector is the largest purchaser in the UK. But often sustainability factors – such as the environmental and social impacts of the goods and services purchased – aren’t factored into spending decisions. Many procurement officers now understand the need for their decisions to support public sector sustainability goals. But knowing how to do this still remains a stumbling block.
That’s all about to change. The Sustainable Procurement Toolkit, supported by this report, Buying A Better World, will help public sector buyers incorporate social and environmental factors into their decision making processes, alongside value, resulting in benefits for end users, tax payers and suppliers.
Buying A Better World explains the importance of incorporating sustainability thinking into buying decisions, and includes case studies and action planning tips for busy procurement officers.
Find out more about The Sustainable Procurement Toolkit here
Buying a Better World & the Sustainable Procurement Toolkit
Date:
4 Mar 2008
With an annual procurement budget of around £160 billion, the public sector is the largest purchaser in the UK. The Sustainable Procurement Toolkit, supported by a full report, Buying A Better World, will help public sector buyers factor the environmental and social impacts of the goods and services they purchase into their spending decisions.
With an annual procurement budget of around £160 billion, the public sector is the largest purchaser in the UK. The Sustainable Procurement Toolkit, supported by a full report, Buying A Better World, will help public sector buyers factor the environmental and social impacts of the goods and services they purchase into their spending decisions.
read moreOur Business is Your Business
11th February 2008
Corby
Corby Borough Council are holding the "Our Business is Your Business" conference to inform their suppliers of the impact taht Regeneration is going to have on the business community.
With sustainability being high on the agenda of Central Government it is important that suppliers are aware of the National drive, the impact that this has on local authorities and what support suppliers can provide. With changes taking place in areas that impact upon Procurement, it is vital that the supply base to local authorities are kept informed of the impact that these changes have to the Procurement process.
This is an opportunity for the suppliers of Corby Borough Council to learn and have an understanding of the direction of travel for the authority and why this is being adopted.
Guest Speakers include:
- The Business Revolution for North Northants Nick Bolton, North Northants Development Company
- Local Impacts to Local Businesses
Chris Mallender - Corby Borough Council - Train to Gain - The Business Training Development Scheme tbc - East Midlands Business & Tresham College
- Equalities
Clare Pavitt - Corby Borough Council - The Local Procurement Process
Stuart Taylor - Corby Borough Council - Embedding Sustainability into Public Sector Procurement Anna Warrington - Forums for the Future
read more
Ethical Obligations and Public Sector Procurement Processes
Corby Borough Council are holding the "Our Business is Your Business" conference to inform their suppliers of the impact taht Regeneration is going to have on the business community.
With sustainability being high on the agenda of Central Government it is important that suppliers are aware of the National drive, the impact that this has on local authorities and what support suppliers can provide. With changes taking place in areas that impact upon Procurement, it is vital that the supply base to local authorities are kept informed of the impact that these changes have to the Procurement process.
This is an opportunity for the suppliers of Corby Borough Council to learn and have an understanding of the direction of travel for the authority and why this is being adopted.
Guest Speakers include:
- The Business Revolution for North Northants Nick Bolton, North Northants Development Company
- Local Impacts to Local Businesses
Chris Mallender - Corby Borough Council - Train to Gain - The Business Training Development Scheme tbc - East Midlands Business & Tresham College
- Equalities
Clare Pavitt - Corby Borough Council - The Local Procurement Process
Stuart Taylor - Corby Borough Council - Embedding Sustainability into Public Sector Procurement Anna Warrington - Forums for the Future
Event organiser:
Corby Borough Council
Public / partnership:
Public Event
Event type:
Forum speaker
Government greens its buying
Two muted cheers for long-awaited procurement action plan
More value less money
David Aeron-Thomas lifts the lid on the debate about sustainability and value for money.
Built to last
We look at how construction projects are feeling their way to a more sustainable approach.
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