Association of Colleges
AoC Procurement Team
The AoC Procurement Service
Following the move from the LSC Procurement Efficiency Team to the Association of Colleges, the AoC Procurement Team is pleased to announce its new Regional Procurement Service.
Since 2005, the Procurement Team has been working with colleges to identify and support the implementation of efficiency initiatives with the aim of achieving:
- Better value for money, which releases funds to invest in services for students
- Reduced exposure to risk
- Improved supplier performance
- Reduced cost (time and effort) of paperwork and administration
With the launch of the new Regional Procurement Service the AoC aims to continue and strengthen this important work.
How can the new AoC Regional Procurement Managers help colleges?
Your Regional Procurement Manager is your first point of contact within your region and offers support to maximise the effectiveness of the college's procurement function. This support includes the following;
Review
Provide a Procurement Audit, Review and Spend Analysis. Your Regional Procurement Manager will provide a tailored action plan and help implement the actions identified. This could be from mitigating risks in areas of possible none compliance to reviewing your procurement policy and strategy.
Network meetings
Provide the regional procurement network meetings sharing best procurement practice and procurement updates.
Training
Provide group or individual procurement training tailored to your college's requirements.
Assist
Provide help with negotiating with suppliers and carrying out complex tenders or shared services initiatives to realise substantial cashable and efficient savings.
Achieving process and pound savings
Scoping and implementation of new processes and benchmarking current suppliers to highlight savings with them or assisting with a switch to new suppliers.
Collaboration
Facilitate collaboration across the region to realise economies of scale and reduce process costs
These roles have been created to provide a procurement service to each region’s colleges and are initially funded. Savings generated and member subscriptions will enable the posts to become sustainable in the future. The role will support the effective management of procurement and embed good procurement practices into the region’s colleges. Procurement is not only governed by EU regulations but when prioritised and performed well, will deliver real cashable savings and efficiencies across all levels within each college.
What does the AoC National Procurement team offer?
Briefings
To provide national updates on relevant procurement news to the FE sector via AoC briefings.
Case studies
To produce case studies on good procurement practice within Colleges, highlighting lessons learned and benefits of the projects.
Engaging procurement stakeholders
Maintaining links with external stakeholders such as Consortia, HEFCE, JISC, GPS - ensuring FE needs are highlighted and develop sector specific guidance for members.
National benchmarking service
Benchmarking of unit costs of procured items against the price structures available via purchasing consortia.
Further Education Library of Procurement (FELP)
Maintaining and updating content on FELP our Procurement Resource website that houses sample specifications, guides, case studies, etc.
Who is my regional contact?
Tel: 01902 824 443 / sara_king@aoc.co.uk
Catherine Duro - FE Procurement Manager, East Midlands (EMFEC)
Tel: 01158 541 623 / CatherineD@emfec.co.uk
Phil White - FE Procurement Manager, East of England (ACER) and London
Tel: 01480 468198 / phil.white@acer.ac.uk
Roger Coles - FE Procurement Manager, South West
Tel: 07920 720 651 / roger_coles@aoc.co.uk
Who are the national contacts?
Carl Johnson - National Procurement Manager
Tel: 07767 323 191 / carl_johnson@aoc.co.uk
Joanna Frost – National Procurement Advisor
Tel: 07881 334743 / Jo_Frost@aoc.co.uk
Helpdesk Services
If your Regional Procurement Manager is not available then contact the national procurement helpdesk for assistance. 0808 178 1669
Also see the new FELP website which aims to give users easy access to the latest procurement advice, guidance and tools.
