While structuring and capturing contract terms are critical for procurement success, the hard work does not end once contracts are signed on the dotted line.
Contract management is about much more than automation and reducing administrative burden. Here are three innovative ways that companies have used to leverage contract management to support strategic business initiatives. (more…)
Chancellor George Osborne announced in his budget that UK small and medium businesses (SMEs) are set to get five times as much from government contracts in 2014-15 as they did in 2012. But will this new scheme, called the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), actually help innovative small businesses get their fair share of work in the public sector?
In the past, many SMEs were fearful of the time and cost of tendering for government or large infrastructure projects. Clearly the government is looking to address this issue via the introduction of SBRI to give small firms the confidence they can get a slice of the pie. But it is also important industry rallies to help SMEs by sharing tips on how to increase their chances of success. (more…)
On his current three-day visit to India, UK Prime Minister David Cameron buy cialis online has urged the Indian government to cut regulation and red tape to help encourage trade and investment from UK businesses.
In return, he announced a same-day visa service for Indian business people to attract them to the UK. (more…)
The relationship between train operators and SMEs seems set for change. Along with the Department of Transport’s major re-franchising programme, presently under way for the UK’s railway networks, comes a significant shift in the government’s view on the length of time over which the new franchises will run – extending terms that were commonly six or seven years to about 15 years for the new franchisees. (more…)
A new supply chain finance scheme was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron last week. It is the latest in a long line of government initiatives to get much-needed cash into the hands of small business owners (SMEs). (more…)
buy viagra online at cheap priceid Noble, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply” width=”100″ height=”100″ />The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were a spectacular success by any measure. They were delivered on time and within budget and, as we went to press, predictions of security problems and travel chaos turned out to be groundless. Procurement was at the heart of the operation and the sheer scale of the undertaking was truly impressive: (more…)
SMEs are leading the way for women bosses, according to research from the Quoted Companies Alliance. Around a quarter of smaller UK businesses that have recently hired directors or senior managers were actively seeking female managers, while 38 per cent shortlisted women and almost 30 per cent ended up hiring a woman. (more…)
I was with a government procurement representative recently. She happened to mention the reduction in procurement staff meant they were being encouraged to place contracts that encompassed more and more capability. This policy is to get them ready for yet more job losses. Simply put, if the number of contracts isn’t reduced the remaining staff will not be able to cope with the workload in the future. (more…)
Increasingly, there is a move to ensure more small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are included in the supply chain, particularly within central and local government. Indeed, central government has committed to a target of 25 per cent of contracts going either direct or transparently indirectly to SMEs by 2015. (more…)
The government’s policy on increasing the amount of its business with SMEs has been clarified in a letter I received this week from the Cabinet Office. Or has it? (more…)
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