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Why the procurement sector needs to accelerate change
By Paul Bailey, writer for Public Sector Public Relations At this year’s Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) conference in Birmingham, which also celebrated 125 years of the organisation, the theme which recurred the most was the role of public sector procurement and the need for more financial innovation and planning. The [...]
(Continue reading)Keeping progress in check
Graham Kemp, Head of Public Sector, SAS UK Priorities are continually shifting in government according to new political appointments, world events, demographic changes and changing environments. As a result, public sector managers must constantly adapt to shifting goalposts at the same time as striving to manage performance and ensure that every organisation is delivering to [...]
(Continue reading)The convenience factor
By Tim Watkin-Rees, Director, PayPoint Earlier this year, the Local Government Association announced that government funding would drop by £3.4 billion, creating a funding gap of £6.5 billion during the 2011-12 financial year[1]. An additional 27 per cent reduction in funds is predicted over the next four years[2]. As a result, councils are examining all [...]
(Continue reading)What difference does it make?
By Ray Jackson, Staff Writer In October 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron set out the Government’s ambitions for the future of public services in the Spending Review. With it came the announcement of the new Public Services White Paper, a detailed dossier on how the Coalition Government would modernise public services and decentralise power. Mr [...]
(Continue reading)Managing older workers – why does it need to be challenging?
By Mary Clarke, CEO, Cognisco As of 6 April this year, companies are no longer allowed to give notice to employees of their retirement under a default retirement age (DRA), and from 1 October the DRA will cease altogether. This is a significant change for businesses and for employees who can now choose if and [...]
(Continue reading)The Bribery Act 2010 – what it means for you
By James Kelly, Partner, Harper Macleod LLP The Bribery Act 2010 came into force today. The Act covers the whole of the UK as well as bribery committed abroad, provided there is a close connection to the UK. Broadly, the four offences created by the Act are: Giving a bribe Receiving a bribe Bribing a [...]
(Continue reading)GO Interview – John McClelland CBE
The Scottish Government recently released a review of public sector information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure carried out by John F McClelland CBE. The report recommends a national ICT strategy to address national needs and that each part of the public sector, such as universities or councils, should move to shared procurement and use of [...]
(Continue reading)Cost savings a ‘must’ for DWP
By Morven MacNeil, GO Content Editor The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has to make significant cost reductions – according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO). The spending watchdog’s report, entitled Reducing costs in the Department for Work and Pensions, says that DWP will have to make ‘rapid progress’ in reorganising [...]
(Continue reading)GO interview – Andrew Rudd
By Morven MacNeil, GO Content Editor The Department of Health has developed a draft procurement strategy for the NHS, which aims to achieve ‘best-in-class performance’. In addition to the national policy direction, there has been significant progress with eProcurement technologies at all levels in the NHS. Suppliers need to understand what leading trusts and contracting [...]
(Continue reading)Consultancy overload?
By Morven MacNeil, GO Content Editor Around £144 million was spent on external consultants by the Northern Ireland Assembly in five years, according to the Northern Ireland Audit Office. The spending watchdog has released a follow-up report to its first report on the use of external consultants, published in 2004. At that time they found [...]
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