Association of Colleges
Success Stories
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A water survey could save you bucketloads
On average every person in the UK uses 147 litres per day. This is wasteful and unsustainable. You can now combat this problem by commissioning a water course survey to be carried out at your College to verify your bills are correct and look at reducing consumption to increase efficiency and consider a long-term strategy for using water more responsibly.
Karen Stanwell at Bourneville College recently had a survey carried out after she was contacted by a company called Cadantis, she recalls;
“The company offer a ‘no win no fee’ service, and the process is pretty pain free – all I had to do was provide 12 months invoices." The College are awaiting their final report from the company, but initial feedback is that the results look promising.
There are also a number of other Colleges across the sector who have been involved at one stage or another. Colleges have reported that in some cases retrospective claims can be made to water companies where charges have been incorrect – so definitely worth considering.
If you’d like to know more about the water course surveys please contact one of the AoC Procurement Development Team. More about A water survey could save you bucketloads
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FE Sussex lead the way in cutting cost of exam fees
For two years, FE Sussex – the consortium company of the 12 post-16 colleges in Sussex – has pursued a highly proactive strategy of reducing the costs of examinations and assessments. As a consortium, their annual spend on assessment services is in excess of £5 million – a considerable sum. Their cost reduction strategy has already cut this by more than £250,000 and they’re ahead of their target for a 10 per cent reduction by the end of 2011.
Cost reduction manifests itself in two forms – cash discounts/rebates and increases in service levels. At first sight, the former appear to be most attractive, but in practice the latter are equally important; these have reduced College administration time, removed frustrations and provided opportunities for continuing professional development and sponsorship of College activities.
Two major vocational awarding bodies are well aware that the sands have shifted. They have responded to the initiative with alacrity, are responsive, accessible and keen to work with FE Sussex.
The strategic agreements that have been signed with these awarding bodies are partnership agreements. They do not take all and give nothing – they have the strategic ability to target business and spend to ensure they receive best value. They are also available to assist awarding bodies when they require rapid access to curriculum issues in colleges or other advice.
FE Sussex are now beginning the next phase of their examinations procurement strategy – how they can strategically target their business to ensure best value for money.
The future will be very different from today – requiring boards to tender in the same way as any other supplier is but one example of how they intend to drive the business and provide best value for their colleges.
If you’d like to know more please contact the AoC Procurement Development Team. More about FE Sussex lead the way in cutting cost of exam fees
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Grimsby Institute has a tender touch for local business
The Grimsby Institute is currently in the process of tendering for approved electrical contractors through the AoC in-tend portal. Whilst their main priority is to get best value for the College, they are also been mindful of the need to support local businesses.
Jason Kay, Purchasing Manager at the College, explains; “We have split the tender into three geographical lots to assist response times and to support local businesses. We’ll appoint a main contractor for each lot, along with maybe one or two sole traders, or small and medium enterprises of up to five employees."
The College believes that they can help small firms to survive the downturn and help them grow in the future. In this particular tender the smaller firms will be given specialist jobs of up to the value of £200 and the rest of the work will be split between the three main contractors.
The College has also been quick to ensure they’re not stung with increased prices after the contract has been awarded, Jason explains; “Part of the evaluation will be on a schedule for different tasks, which will mean the contractors will have to stick to the prices submitted in the tender. This process should also stop people pricing low to win the tender, and then increasing prices thereafter."
If you’d like to know more details about this tender process please email Jason Kay at the Grimsby Institute. More about Grimsby Institute has a tender touch for local business
