Welcome

Scottish public sector procurement has taken some major leaps forward over the last 12 months, including the creation of the National Procurement Centre of Expertise and the establishment of a formal programme of collaborative contracting through Scotland Excel.

However, the agenda is expanding to recognise the impact good procurement and efficiency can have on matters of wider concern such as sustainability, collaborative working, the third sector and local businesses, SOPO Scotland Annual Conference & Exhibition – Sustaining the Challenge, is intended to address some of the issues around the – strategic fit – of procurement with the overall objectives of organisations, stakeholders and suppliers.

Speakers include Rory Mair, CEO of COSLA, who will discuss the importance of procurement as part of the overall strategic objectives of local authorities. Dorothy Cowie will be examining the objectives of the Procurement Scotland and how wider collaborative working will impact on successful outcomes.

A number of speakers will look at different aspects of the sustainability agenda, and Iain Moore will take a look at some of the emerging issues from EU legislation and case law. Importantly, there will be time for networking and discussion with suppliers and other organisations who have taken up exhibition space.