It is recognised that insourcing is a valuable approach that has helped organisations achieve cost savings, better service delivery and a greater degree of control. In order to support our members to uptake best practice and innovation within the field of insourcing, iNetwork delivered an engaging “Insourcing Roundtable” held on Thursday, 15th May.
This event proved to be highly successful and brought together three esteemed speakers, who shared knowledge and insightful case studies from across the sector. Presentations were delivered from: Peter Schofield, Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement at Manchester City Council, Linda Corn, Head of Business and Strategic Change at West Sussex County Council, and Karen Middlebrook, Head of Procurement at Rotherham Council.
Peter Schofield opened the session with an insightful overview of Manchester City Council’s recent shift toward insourcing. He outlined the creation of the Major Contracts Review Board, established as a key mechanism supporting the Council’s strategic approach, followed by a breakdown of the steps undertaken as part of the Delivery Model Assessment. A key takeaway from Peter’s presentation was the critical need for detailed planning, proactive capacity-building, and ensuring a realistic timeline to support successful insourcing.
Linda Corn then delivered a compelling presentation highlighting a strategic programme designed to support West Sussex County Council’s transition from a key supplier to a new in-house delivery model. She shared valuable insights into the elements that contributed to the programme’s success and outlined the ongoing benefits of the shift. These include increased control over critical frontline services, enhanced recruitment outcomes, and a deeper understanding of the Council’s organisational change maturity.
Finally, Karen Middlebrook shared an insightful project specific experience: “The Management of Rotherham’s Household Waste Recycling Centre”. Karen emphasised the importance of maintaining social value and policy drivers within contract management. One key takeaway from Karen was the need for having a thought-through, pragmatic time-scale to ensure that insourcing is effective.
The event sparked a heavily engaged discussion between the audience and speakers, with emerging themes such as the impact of insourcing on procurement services, the effects of insourcing on recruitment and social value, and risks that emerge with adopting this strategic approach. The event concluded with our members leaving inspired with fresh insights on the world of insourcing.
Check out an upcoming iNetwork event “Procurement Act Peer Support Group: Market Engagement Session” on Tuesday 15th July, 10:00-11:30AM. This session is dedicated to providing support for procurement professionals navigating the changes to the new Procurement Act legislation. Whether you’re a commissioner, procurement professional, contract manager, or budget holder, this event will help to support you! Register your ticket here.