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The best must get better, procurement professionals are challenged
Source: BiP,
30 MAY 2007
One of the UK’s most senior civil servants has challenged
professionals working in procurement to raise their game in
order to meet tough new government efficiency targets.
David Smith, Commercial Director at the Department for Works
and Pensions, was addressing more than 200 delegates from
the public and private sectors at the London Contracts and
Supplies Group’s annual conference, entitled ‘Strong
and Prosperous Procurement’, on Thursday 24 May 2007.
Mr Smith urged his audience:
“We are here to ensure the taxpayer gets best value
for money.
“While several key areas in procurement have improved
over the past 20 years, we face our toughest challenge ever
in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007. The challenges
facing us include demanding efficiency and spend targets and
there is a significant role for the procurement function in
delivering this challenge.
“However, we need to collaborate and address smarter
procurement, demand management and getting more from our suppliers:
no matter what has improved, more of the same will NOT be
enough.”
This year’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR07),
due to be announced later this year, will present public sector
buying departments with a number of challenges, including
the movement of 4000 posts from London and the South East
to elsewhere in the UK. It was one of the major issues of
discussion at the conference, which was held at the Marriott
Grosvenor Square and organised by BiP Solutions Ltd.
Richard Parsons, Chairman of the LCSG, said:
“David Smith has quite rightly urged those working
within the procurement sector to raise their game in view
of the challenges that lie ahead.
“Delegates attending agree that procurement in
the public sector will see its profile raised over the coming
months and we must collaborate to address this. The conference
has been a great success in terms of bringing those involved
together to share ideas and experience of best practice and
I look forward to seeing this knowledge put into effect.”
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