Introduction
Welcome to iNetwork’s Connected Procurement and Commissioning (CPC) programme. There is growing recognition across local and national government that innovative public procurement can play a crucial role in driving better outcomes for public organisations, and the people and places that they serve. iNetwork’s CPC programme creates space for procurement professionals, commissioners, contract managers, and budget holders to hold constructive conversations and share best practice.
Our activities support the partnership to deliver more efficient public services and to build stronger, fairer, and greener local economies through improved procurement and commissioning. The focus of the 2021-2022 programme is to enable procurement and commissioning leads to understand what innovation in this field looks like, and to encourage colleagues to collaborate on shared challenges. The programme will help the local public sector to respond to the changing nature of public services by continuing to support greater efficiency, commercial practices, and service integration, whilst also championing core social value outcomes such as environmental sustainability, tackling modern slavery, local wealth building, and inclusive growth.
Priorities and Objectives for 2021-22
Effective Co-Commissioning and Procurement Innovation
Support procurement and commissioning leads to jointly commission more effectively to deliver savings and efficiencies, particularly within the context of the wider devolution and public sector reform agenda.
Tackling Policy Outcomes Important to the Public Sector
Support, and respond to, the evolving strategic policy objectives of the public sector through improved procurement and commissioning practices. These include, embedding social value to support inclusive and sustainable growth, supporting local economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and addressing environmental sustainability, poverty, inequality, and modern slavery.
“We’ve always found iNetwork such a useful connection, with a strong engagement in sharing knowledge. I’m not sure where we’d be on our social value journey without iNetwork– that’s moving on at a rate of knots now!”
The CPC Network Leadership Group
Each iNetwork programme has a Network Leadership Group (NLG) which consists of iNetwork members who are leading practitioners in their field. The NLGs serve as both a programme board and a leadership forum for collaboration across the local public sector. The network leaders for the Connected Procurement & Commissioning Programme are:
CPC Network Leadership Group Members
Christine Atherton, AGMA
Conway Stewart, Cumbria County Council
Duncan Spokes, YPO
Gemma Isles, Transport for Greater Manchester
Helen McMahon, Lancaster City Council
Keith Patterson, Wirral Council
Liam Reynolds, Wigan Council
Lianne Halliday, Cheshire East Council
Neil Hind, Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership
Nichola Cooke, STAR Procurement (Deputy Chair)
Paul Maynard, AGMA
Peter Schofield, Manchester City Council (Chair)
Rob Banks, St Helens Borough Council
Sarah Janusz, Bury Council
Programme Co-ordinator
Louis Stockwell
CPC Programme Co-ordinator
For advice, guidance and support in this area, please contact Louis Stockwell, Connected Procurement & Commissioning Programme Lead.