From unprecedented supply chain disruptions to intense scrutiny on spending, rarely has the public sector faced such a challenging time. Despite this, public sector organisations must continue delivering uncompromising quality and effectiveness with minimal resources – and it’s the strength of their procurement and supply chain functions that will make all the difference.
The spotlight has shone on Procurement to provide savings and value for money and ensure that the goods and services delivered – ranging from adult care services to large infrastructure projects such as HS2 – ultimately enhance the wellbeing of UK residents. It’s also incumbent on Procurement functions to find new ways of extracting revenue.
These requirements must be met under both a government commitment to spend 30% of budget with SME suppliers, and the public procurement regulations, which require the public sector to ensure complete transparency and a non-discriminatory approach to the supplier market.
Robust commissioning strategies
Efficio’s in-depth knowledge of such regulations means we can give public sector clients the deep strategic focus needed to develop an initial commissioning strategy, which will set the agenda for the execution of the tender and the delivery of results.
This understanding also allows us to tailor our approach to clients’ unique goals and circumstances, working with private sector clients who are subject to public sector procurement rules. We have supported Network Rail in the implementation of its five-year projected spend on rail infrastructure and maintenance. Our five-year project to run Thames Water’s procurement function has resulted in improved capability and increased savings.
Thinking differently
Efficio’s work with UK public sector bodies includes:
- ministerial and non-ministerial central government departments
- local authorities
- NHS
- education establishments
- emergency services
We provide support in all aspects of public procurement and supply chain operations – organisational design to implement shared services, tendering and negotiation, post-contract supplier performance management and commercial management and cost control.
We supported the design of a shared Procurement organisation across the tri-borough councils of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City of Westminster and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. We implemented a Procurement shared service centre across four police forces – Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire – with strategic sourcing support. Both projects have delivered around 15% of procurement savings.
Legacies
Efficio thinks differently from traditional cost consultancies, adding value to infrastructure and deploying better tools and technology. Our innovative contracting and tendering models are supported by eFlow, Efficio’s cutting-edge Procurement and post-contract management technology. Clients have visibility over the entire supply chain and can optimise value across it.
We recognise and understand the sensitivities around external consultants in the public sector. Our priority is upskilling and developing public sector procurement professionals to ensure they are able to continue demonstrating best-practice procurement long after we have gone.
Our fees are linked to objectives, offering a balance of risk and reward. This makes it easier for public sector procurement professionals to choose an external consultant and ultimately results in better value for money.
