ARE THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND SMEsCOMPLETELY INCOMPATIBLE?

Likewise, public bodies are increasinglyrunning their own mini-competitionswithin frameworks, freeing both themand the SME supplier from the bureaucracyof establishing separate tenders.Similarly, tendering is also somethingprofessional buying organisations

(PBOs) such as ESPO are challengingpreconceived notions about; for manycompanies, tendering for a council orNHS Trust’s contract was simply toodifficult and too time-consuming.PBOs are providing private firms witha simpler route into attractive andlong-term public sector supply work.What’s not generally realised is thatPBOs provide a number of profitableroutes to market for private firms –big and small – through our productcatalogues and supply frameworks.As stated previously, ESPO’s cataloguehas over 27,000 product lines fromover 2,000 different suppliers, which

Perhaps the principal myth that needsdispelling in relation to public sectorprocurements is the ongoing perceptionthat they are unfriendly towards SMEs.Incontestably, more can always be doneto provide SMEs with extra support,but local government procurement iscontinually striving to be SME friendly.

At ESPO we operate over 150frameworks for the public sector andalongside a catalogue of over 27,000products, SMEs routinely make upmore than 55% of our supply chain.Yes, frameworks have been subject tocriticism in the past for being restrictivetowards SMEs: on occasions creatinginsurmountable hurdles for smallersuppliers. However, it is critical not tooverlook that frameworks have alsoevolved to become much more flexible.Increasingly, procurement lots arebeing used as a strategy to break upa national contract into smallerregional chunks, which allow forsmaller SME-friendly awards.

translates into tens of millions ofpounds in orders every year.With the government targeting 25%of its contracts to be met by SMEs by2015, the frameworks that we areoffering take the ‘legwork’ out oftender compliance for small and largefirms that are accepted onto them,exemplified by ESPO already reportingthat 55% of our frameworks aresupplied by small firms.Therefore, is the underlying view thatthe public sector and SMEs don’t mixreally accurate?My answer is no. This blanket view isflawed and self-fulfilling, representingan obsolete perception that will onlyserve to discourage SMEs fromparticipating, which is the last thingeither the public sector or small firmsneed.

ESPO’s Assistant Director (Procurement & Compliance), Kristian Smith discusses the SME myth

“SMEs routinely makeup more than 55% ofour supply chain.”

“…providing privatefirms with a simplerroute into attractiveand long-term publicsector work.”

In this increasingly pressurised environment, ESPO’s procurement solutionsare there to help local authorities save both time and money and alleviatethese mounting pressures.

However, there still exist a number of misconceptions surrounding publicsector procurements, in particular regarding their relationship with SMEs.

CorporateUpdateYour newsletter about ESPO’s frameworks and contracts

Autumn 2014

The NHS will have to undertake a vastdigitisation process in response to thisgovernment’s attempt to improveefficiency; however, ESPO’s DocumentScanning Services Framework (390)can help to ensure that this process isnot as arduous as it seems.

“Framework 390 offers theperfect multi-supplier frameworksolution for NHS bodies lookingto meet the targets outlined bythe Health Secretary and gopaperless by 2018, but also forother public sector organisations,looking for a comprehensiverange of electronic documentscanning services.”Nasir Makda,Building and Facilities Management,Category Manager

procure document scanning services, asand when required.

The last year has seen a significant uptakein the framework from NHS Trusts, actingin response to Jeremy Hunt’s demands.

As interest continues to grow, we arecurrently in the process of re-tenderingand the new framework will be availablefrom January 2015. This will take intoaccount technological advancementsand will provide you with another multi-supplier framework solution in the yearsleading up to 2018 and beyond.

However, in the meantime, the NHSCommissioning Board is challenginghospitals to lead the way by setting theinterim target of making informationdigitally and securely available by2014/15.

Further information about this frameworkis available at:www.espo.org/frameworksor t: Nasir Makda 0116 294 4166or e: n.makda@espo.org

Last year, Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Health,announced his intention for the NHS to go paperless by2018, in an attempt to save billions, improve services andhelp meet the challenges of an ageing population.

‘GO PAPERLESS’ TOIMPROVE EFFICIENCY

DOCUMENT SCANNING SERVICES – FRAMEWORK 390 EVENT & FESTIVALEQUIPMENTSERVICES

FRAMEWORK 209

With the festival season quicklybecoming a distant memory,at ESPO we understand thatorganising can be extremelychallenging, regardless ofwhether you are running a smallvillage fête, music festival orinternational sporting event.

Our Event & Festival Equipment andServices Framework (209), is quickand easy to use, and designed tohelp you to organise and run afestival or event of any size.The framework offers you acomprehensive choice of services,ranging from the provision offireworks to providing a specialistto organise or manage the eventfor you.All of the suppliers on theframework have been selected fortheir experience and ability toprovide customers with quality,safety and value.

Further information about thisframework is available at:www.espo.org/frameworksor t: Dave Johnston 0116 265 7943or e: d.johnston@espo.orgFramework 390 offers our customers a

quick, simple and competitive route to

MANAGED SERVICES FOR TEMPORARY AGENCY RESOURCES – FRAMEWORK 653F

ESPO’s SOPO award winning MSTARframework has saved customersjust over £45 million on theirtemporary staffing requirementssince going live in April 2011.

This equates to just under 5% against their total spend of£908 million. In the most recent financial quarter alone,April to June 2014, customers saved £9.8 million.

MSTAR is a national frameworkfor the managed provision oftemporary agency workers tolocal authorities, educationalestablishments and other widerpublic sector organisationsthroughout the UK.Led by ESPO, the national frameworkagreement was established on behalfof the Local Government ProfessionalServices Group (LGSPG).Competitive rates and high quality ofservice from awarded suppliers haveresulted in customers being able todrive down the costs and improveefficiencies associated withtemporary staffing.The framework has therefore been aresounding success, and the ESPOProfessional Services team arecurrently in the process of re-tenderingfor the succeeding framework whichwill be introduced when the currentcontract ends in April next year.

In recent months there have been anumber of events held helping toshape and develop the new MSTAR2framework, in order to ensure thatcustomers’ future needs are met andto reflect changes in the market.If you would like to knowmore aboutthe existing framework or the intendednew framework or simply learn howMSTAR can save you money, contactDavid Maylin: e: mstar@espo.orgt: 0116 294 4006

MSTAR SAVES CUSTOMERS OVER£45 MILLION SINCE 2011…

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NEW FRAMEWORKS

CorporateUpdateis a customer newsletter

published byESPO, Barnsdale Way, Grove Park,

Enderby, Leicester LE19 1ESwww.espo.org

© ESPO 2014

For further information on any of the articles in this newsletter, contact:Steve Exley, Business Development Manager: e: s.exley@espo.org t: 07827 881641Sandra Sewell, CorporateAccount Manager: e: s.sewell@espo.org t: 07824 824643To receive future issues by email please contact marketing@espo.org

This publication is printed on paper made from a mix of wood sourced from sustainable forestsand recycled pulp.

MEETING THE ESPO TEAMSIn the past few months ESPO has held a number of successfulevents that have given our customers the opportunity tomeet and engage with ESPO’s procurement category teams.

“We are delighted with the newwebsite both in terms of its designand ease of use. It was imperativethat moving forwards we had one,customer friendly website and thatis exactly what we have got.”

Trevor Phipps,Assistant Director, Sales and Marketing

The new state of the art websiterepresents another significant stepforward for ESPO, as critically itallows us to merge five websites wepreviously managed, into oneaesthetic and customer friendlyonline home.With a clear design and powerfulsearch functionality, the new websiteis extremely easy to navigate, andprovides us with a far improvedplatform to communicate theproducts and services that we offer.

One key feature of the new websiteis the introduction of MyESPO;designed to reduce the amount oftime you spend searching for thoseproducts and frameworks relevantto you.MyESPO will act as your online ESPOhub, tailored specifically to yourneeds, allowing you for example toadd frameworks you’re interested in

to a personal interest list, which willthen automatically notify you of anychanges or updates applied to it.To enjoy the full benefits of the newwebsite, those previously registered onDealing Direct will need to re-register,and for those who order through thecatalogue, we just require a few detailsto be inputted into the new system.

NEW ESPO WEBSITE LAUNCHEDESPO has just launched a brand newwebsite, to make it even easier foryou to enhance your user experience.

The latest event held in July was forthe police service and was attendedby police procurement staff from allover the UK.

Just as in previous events, it offeredan unrivalled opportunity for thosein attendance to meet ESPO’sProcurement Heads of Category

and conversely for us to providethem with an insight into ESPOprocurement.

If you would like to attend anyfurther events, please register yourinterest by contacting Steve Exley,Business Development Manager:s.exley@espo.org or 07827 881641.

New frameworks since last edition:•Telecare and telehealth productsand services – framework 201

•Fire safety products and associatedservices – framework 225

•Street food – framework 449

•Aids for daily living – framework 240

•Microgeneration technologies– framework 2838

•Meat, meat products, poultryand game – framework 114

•Sandwiches, filled bread productsand packed lunches – framework 121

•Coal – framework 29

• Impulse ice-cream – framework 899

•Confectionery, sweets, snacks, cakesand biscuits – framework 899C

We value and encourage feedback/comments from our customers about whatwe do and how we do it and any of the articles in this newsletter. Please feelfree to let us know your opinions about how ESPO performs for you and yourorganisation, by sending your comments by email to: s.exley@espo.org

Christmas tradingWe close on 24 December 2014 and reopen on 2 January 2015