Welsh National Procurement Awards reward public procurement of innovation
Companies and councils driving progress by investing in innovative and sustainable procurement were recognised at a ceremony in the Welsh capital of Cardiff in March 2014. Organised by the Welsh government and the Institute for Competition and Procurement Studies, the awards are designed to promote and encourage public procurement of innovation across the country.
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (CBC) received the Public Procurement of Innovation Award for its overhaul of local supported living services. The work involved restructuring the service, introducing a purchasing card and ending the practice of advance payments. CBC also included social clauses in their service contracts, such as recruiting employees who had been out of work for a significant period. The council was able to deliver savings of £430,000 a year in a project declared by the judges “an excellent example of how to achieve quality in public spending.”
Other winners included Glamorgan-based waste management company Amber Services Limited, who were given the Green Public Procurement Award in recognition of their emphasis on waste minimisation and recycling. “The Awards Evening presents an opportunity for all those who buy for, and supply, the Welsh public sector to show what best practice really is, so their achievements can be celebrated and those who have made a contribution to the wellbeing of Wales can be recognised.” said Kerry Wilson, Acting Deputy Director at Value Wales, Welsh Government.
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