Procurement

Procurement helps us deliver quality and sustainable services to our customers.

Working with suppliers

We work with more than 2,000 suppliers each year, from sole traders to international organisations.

We aim to deliver value for money through relationships with our suppliers based on shared values and ensuring procurement activities are undertaken ethically and free of conflict of interest.

Our supplier spend of £250m per annum is grouped into categories, each managed by dedicated team members.

We are always keen to hear from suppliers who have new or innovative solutions to the challenges we face.

Procurement process

We use the following tools and systems to manage and support procurement:

  • Jaggaer – this online tool provides a simple, secure and efficient way to manage tenders and quotations from suppliers. Jaggaer Advantage reduces the time and effort required for both buyers and suppliers.
  • Achilles UVDB – regularly used to select suppliers of goods or services for tendering opportunities.
  • Qualification system - our qualification system details the range of particular works and professional services categories we may require.
  • Marketplace - this online tool highlights the challenges we are looking to solve and associated data. Via the Marketplace we share specific challenges in an open question rather than asking for a price for a pre-determined solution.
  • Health & Safety - we expect suppliers undertaking services or works on our sites and employ five people or more, to hold either ISO45001 (UKAS or equivalent) or be registered with a Safety Schemes In Procurement (SSIP) member scheme. Further enquiries based upon risk will be made with those who employ four or less to demonstrate competence and appropriate safe systems of work.

Upcoming tenders

We are looking at tendering the following areas:

  • The Supply of PPE & clothing
  • The Supply of Concrete, Tarmac, and Aggregates

If you are interested in participating in these tender opportunities, please register on Achilles.

Want to work with us?

If you're interested in becoming one of our suppliers, please get in touch.

 

Submit a supplier request