Masterclass Delegates Motivated to “Procure a Better Tomorrow”
The East of England LGA’s 5th Annual Procurement Masterclass was, by general consensus, the best one yet with a staggering 74% of attendees rating the event as “Excellent” and one delegate even commenting that it was “the best use of a day out of the office all year”.
The event covered a range of topical presentations, based around the theme of “Procuring a Better Tomorrow”, which included regulatory reform, climate change, resource efficiency and procuring for social value.
The day was kicked off with a very interactive presentation from Lisa Stubbs, the Brexit Lead for Procurement Policy at the Cabinet Office, featuring some on-line “real time” surveying of the audience’s views on the future direction of public procurement policy – a stimulating and enlightening session which set the tone for what was to follow. Speaker after speaker provided challenging insights and information about how those in the procurement profession could and should be influencing their Council to procure with sustainability and climate change at the forefront of their thinking.
Andy Smith and John Moores, Technology and Energy Leads respectively at the Crown Commercial Service, provided complimentary and contrasting pictures of the potential for public bodies to embrace real change in their procurement practice and a shot of reality about just how far we still have to go to achieve that elusive “zero carbon” future.
The effervescent Mark Sait, CEO of “Save Money, Cut Carbon”, inspired the audience to consider simple, practical steps that could be taken to improve both their own and their organisation’s carbon footprint through more efficient energy and water usage. He also demonstrated, with a little audience participation and some light bulbs, that sustainability and cost reduction are natural bedfellows rather than competing priorities.
The similarly ebullient Pippa Heylings, Councillor at South Cambridgeshire District Council and environmental campaigner, gave a fascinating take on the elected member perspective of Climate Change – entertaining and amusing the audience with some caustic wit and colourful language!
Closing the day, two speakers offered different perspectives on delivering social value through procurement. The honesty of Katrina Browning from Suffolk County Council was particularly appreciated, with one delegate commenting that it was “great piece of sharing; you could still see the scars of what she had been through to get the Council to the great place that it is in today”.
All slides and presentations from the day are available on the event website at https://www.eelga.gov.uk/events/procurement_masterclass_2019/ (with the exception of those from Lisa which cannot be shared for reasons of political sensitivity).
All in all, EELGA’s Procurement Masterclass remains one of the must-go events for those working in local government procurement in the East of England.
For more information about how we support local government procurement in the East of England, please contact our Senior Manager, Eddie Gibson on 01284 758310 or e-mail eddie.gibson@eelga.gov.uk