Why attend

Delegates will learn about the scope of public sector spending and how the public sector manages its procurement activity. Delegates will be advised about upcoming changes within public procurement, and how these affect them. They will also hear about the procurement processes that public sector organisations are required to use and how to respond to them, plus critical do's and don'ts within the tendering process.

However, this event is not just about theory. Sessions throughout the day provide valuable guidance on how to identify and win contracts in key areas of the public sector - including the MOD, NHS, Local Government and Education. The event also provides insight into the countless opportunities available within the many large-scale infrastructure projects announced by the Government - opportunities that your business could benefit from.

Local Government: Local government has an annual procurement spend of about £50bn and this is likely to grow as outsourcing increases and new functions come under local authority control. There are nearly 400 local authorities and their responsibilities and procurement activities are wide ranging. Also, local government is served by several procurement consortia, which have a huge influence in this area. Delegates will learn how to maximise the opportunities that are literally on their doorstep.

Education: Procurement spend in the education sector is in excess of £30bn a year, of which £20bn is by schools, £5bn by universities and £5bn within further education. Delegates will gain insight into what each sector buys, how it buys, the use of consortia and the opportunities for securing business.

National Health Service: The NHS spends £20bn a year through its hospital trusts and a further £20bn a year through GP commissioning groups (excluding commissioning with hospitals). A new procurement strategy has been announced, with an increased focus on innovation - which can favour SMEs - and improving the professionalism of procurement. Delegates will hear about the new strategy, what the NHS buys, how it buys and how to engage with NHS institutions, either directly with them or through the numerous joint procurement organisations.

Central Government: The Crown Commercial Service (formerly Government Procurement Service) procures requirements worth £12bn a year for the public sector, with more than 50% of its spend with SMEs. The formation of the CCS will see a significant increase in its use by public sector organisations, including local authorities and consortia. The CCS lets a huge range of framework agreements across sectors such as IT, construction and legal services. This session will describe what the CCS does, its influence in the public sector, how it will be changing procurement practices and how to turn winning a place on one of its framework contracts into business.