FINAL GPSJ Summer edition 2024 ONLINE VERSION.2pdf - Flipbook - Page 11
LOCAL AUTHORITY & COUNCIL
GPSJ
Going for Gold in Public Sector
Procurement
By Caroline Compton-James, Deputy Chief Executive of SCAPE
The UK may be basking in
the sun of the post-Olympics
heatwave, but local authorities
are still weathering a storm.
Councils face a funding
shortfall of £3.6 billion and
remain under increasing
pressure to address a wide
array of urgent demands – from
social mobility and deprivation
to solving the housing crisis,
achieving net zero, and driving
local economic growth. And
all of this while working
within a planning system that
is underfunded and needs
updating.
These challenges make the
efficient procurement of vital
construction projects all the more
critical. One initiative raising the
bar for excellence in construction
procurement is the Gold Standard
Verification scheme, which
ensure that councils’ priorities
are met efficiently through smart
procurement practices through the
use of frameworks.
As of 1st August 2024, SCAPE
became one of the first public sector
framework providers to achieve
this accreditation. This milestone
is more than a mark of distinction;
it highlights the way that Gold
Standard procurement providers,
like SCAPE, are actively helping
to bring improved socioeconomic
outcomes to local communities
across the country.
Understanding the Gold
Standard Verification
Published in 2021 by Professor
David Mosey CBE on behalf of the
Cabinet Office, the Gold Standard
is a set of 24 quality criteria
established to ensure that public
sector procurement delivers better,
safer, faster, and greener outcomes.
It supports the achievement of
net zero targets, improves safety
through whole-life value and the
use of digital information, and drives
efficiency by leveraging technology
and innovative methods.
Verified frameworks provide the
highest standards in compliant,
collaborative procurement. In
practical terms, this means the
Gold Standard empowers councils
and other public sector bodies to
set clear targets, secure strong
partnerships, and deliver better
outcomes by ensuring that value for
money, efficiency and best practice
are followed at every stage of a
project.
Whether boosting local economies
through SME engagement or
addressing skills gaps and
enhancing social value and
sustainability outcomes,
the Gold Standard
model is
designed to
ensure
procurement supports councils’
socio-economic improvement aims.
Boosting local economies and
skills through SME engagement
A central tenet of Gold Standard
procurement is the engagement
of SMEs within the supply chain.
By providing local authorities with
access to sector-leading framework
suppliers and their extensive local
supply chains, SCAPE has not
only fostered the growth of local
SMEs but also established a model
for more inclusive and equitable
procurement. These frameworks
give SMEs greater visibility of
upcoming project pipelines and
foster collaboration. This allows
local businesses to invest in
technology, skills, and resources
— enabling them to operate more
sustainably while building resilience
and contributing to local economic
growth.
Crucially for local authorities,
this means that through SCAPE,
public funds are reinvested into
the community, driving job creation
and supporting the growth of local
industries. This, in turn, enables
councils to maximise return on
investment through enhanced
community impact while saving on
costs, time and resource that can
be poured back into public services.
SCAPE has a strong track record,
delivering over12,000 projects; our
localised approach to supply chains
has helped the public sector save
over £118 million in the past five
years alone.
Enhancing Social Value and
Sustainable Outcomes
Along with driving economic returns,
the Gold Standard also provides the
impetus for a wider consideration
of the success criteria for projects,
recognising the importance of cost
effectiveness but also the value of
non-commercial outcomes, like
the delivery of social value and
employment opportunities. With
growing concerns around the
availability of skilled construction
workers expected to hinder the
delivery of vital projects, addressing
this gap is critical - not only to
enable us to build and maintain
Caroline Compton-James,
Deputy Chief Executive of SCAPE
public assets but to ensuring the
UK has a strong and skilled future
workforce.
A leading example can be found
with Birmingham City Council’s Perry
Barr residential project. Procured
through SCAPE, this project
generated £267m in social value,
leading to significant improvements
in local skills, employment
opportunities, and economic
growth. Meanwhile on a smaller
scale, Ashe Constructions’ Healthy
Eating Workshops on site in Bedford
demonstrate how construction
companies can partner with local
communities to promote public
health through community-focussed
initiatives.
The sustainability requirements
of the Gold Standard, likewise,
guarantee that all projects align with
the UK’s net zero targets. This lays
the groundwork for more efficient
and climate-forward construction
through encouraging the use of
modern methods of construction,
sustainable supply chain
management and whole life carbon
consideration on projects. By
building sustainability and efficiency
into procurement processes,
councils can not only accelerate
growth and provide quality public
services but leave communities with
a sustainable legacy.
As local authorities and
government departments continue
to navigate complex economic
and social challenges, choosing
Gold Standard frameworks offers
more than just a benchmark—it’s
a winning strategy. Just as Team
GB went for gold at the Olympics,
councils across the UK should
strive to partner with Gold Standard
frameworks for their procurement.
By doing so, we’re not just
competing; we’re setting ourselves
up for victory, ensuring that UK
communities reap the rewards of
smarter, greener, and more impactful
investment.
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL SUMMER 2024
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