Nottingham City Council has been shortlisted for three awards for the way it buys goods and services for the public.
The authority is a finalist in three categories at the National Government Opportunities (GO) Excellence in Public Procurement Awards 2016/17. These recognise new and innovative ways to buy – or procure – for the public sector.
The council is nominated in the following categories:
- Procurement Innovation or Initiative of the Year for a partnership bid with NHS Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group for the way residential and nursing care homes are accredited
- Procurement Team of the Year for a partnership with Framework Housing Association for the procurement for the Opportunity Nottingham partnership (Big Lottery-funded project), for an eight-year programme called Fulfilling Lives – Supporting People With Multiple Needs
- Procurement Leadership of the Year for the Nottingham City Council Procurement Strategy, which since being launched in 2014 has driven the delivery of economic, social and environmental benefits for the city
Councillor Graham Chapman, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration, said: “Being shortlisted for three awards highlights the commitment of our staff in providing some very high quality services for people in Nottingham while making sure we get the best value. It is all the more important at a time of cuts that we try and maintain standards. The nominations are a tribute to the hard work and dedication of these particular teams”
Grahame Steed, Managing Editor of GO and lead judge, said: “The UK sets the standard for procurement excellence around the world, so it’s great to see so many teams willing to test themselves against the UK’s best. The UK’s Day of Procurement on Tuesday 8 March is going to be hotly-contested!”
At last year’s awards the Council was high commended in the GO Procurement Innovation or Initiative of the Year Award for the commissioning of a new sign language and interpretation service, which is jointly-funded with other councils and NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups. Previously it was commissioned separately. This improves services for deaf people, who were involved and consulted throughout the commissioning and procurement process.
The award winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate on Tuesday 8 March 2016.