Procurement MoU includes qualifications push

The agreement is between the UK Government Procurement and The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS).

The new MoU will serve as a significant boost for the Government procurement profession with both organisations agreeing to combine resources on areas of common interest, including lobbying and representation in support of the transformation of EU Procurement rules; collaborative work to optimise training and other procurement capability improvement programmes both within GPS, and where appropriate across Government; exploring ways to increase the percentage of civil service procurement staff that are professionally qualified, and; promoting government procurement initiatives, best practice tools and techniques to non-Government bodies, with any resultant income invested to improve the capability of UK civil service procurement staff.

John Collington, the Government’s chief procurement officer and head of the Government Procurement Profession said: “Continuous professional development and improvement in capability sits at the heart of the Procurement Reform Strategy. Given the size of the prize from better management of total procurement spend, in support of the Government’s deficit reduction and growth priorities, there is an opportunity to ensure the UK Civil Service procurement profession, through delivery, is valued and appreciated at the very highest levels of office, now and for the future. Therefore, our desire to work with CIPS on a range of mutually beneficial objectives will enable both organisations to support the enhancement and capability of the profession. I sincerely believe that this MoU will further strengthen our current relationship and we in Government Procurement look forward to working with David and his staff over the next 12 months at a very exciting time for public procurement.”    

David Noble, chief executive officer at the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply said: “The public sector and professional procurement of goods and services is a key focus for the institute and we’re committed to support this agreement.  I believe that excellent practice at national, regional and local government levels will reduce spending and offer significant value-add to departments struggling with the challenges and pressures of today’s public sector world.”

David Noble will continue to sit on the Cabinet office Procurement Reform Board as a non-executive, in an advisory capacity.

For more information
www.cips.org