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Progressing the Procurement Pipeline and Future Opportunities with East Renfrewshire Council

East Renfrewshire Council logo

East Renfrewshire Council is participating in a Twitter Takeover of the SDP Scotland account today, 2 June, from 11:00am to 12:00noon, as part of SDP's Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event. This blog outlines information on East Renfrewshire Council's procurement and economic development teams to enable suppliers to engage with the procurement pipeline, including future opportunities. Suppliers are encouraged to follow the #MeetTheBuyer2020 hashtag on Twitter and ask real time questions to buyers at East Renfrewshire Council.

The role of corporate procurement is to develop and facilitate the collaborative process of identifying and obtaining goods, services and works to support East Renfrewshire Council in its delivery of five strategic outcomes:

  • Early years and vulnerable young people
  • Learning, life and work
  • Environment and economy
  • Safe, supportive communities
  • Older people and people with long-term conditions

East Renfrewshire Council's corporate procurement vision is to grow the strategic influence of procurement across the Council through respected and professional expertise, fostering positive relationships which ultimately deliver innovative, sustainable and compliant practices which provide best and added value for the organisation.

In order to achieve this vision, corporate procurement focuses activities on five key procurement capabilities:

  • Leadership and stakeholder management
  • Compliance and governance
  • Strategic procurement
  • Performance reporting
  • Sustainable procurement and community benefits

Corporate Procurement

The Corporate Procurement unit supports services to deliver efficiently and effectively, adding value and professional expertise whilst ensuring compliance with procurement legislation. The unit is based within the Council Headquarters at Eastwood Park.

The Procurement team is headed by the Chief Procurement Officer, Debbie Hill, and supported by five Procurement Category Managers who manage procurement activity for Corporate & Community Services, Chief Executives, Environment, Education and the Health & Social Care Partnership. These staff include:

  • May Harvey-Welsh - Housing & Economic Development / Corporate & Chief Executives
  • Sandra Bisset - Environment - Waste, Cleansing, Parks, Roads, Transport
  • Sean Skelton - Property & Technical Services
  • Vanessa Fordyce - City Deal/ICT
  • Nora Nemeth - Education/Trust

Suppliers can email East Renfrewshire Council's Procurement team directly or visit the Corporate Procurement website section for more information. Suppliers may also be interested in learning more about Community Benefits and how to do business with East Renfrewshire Council.

Economic Development

The Economic Development team is committed to helping new and existing businesses grow and succeed through a coordinated package of advice, recruitment and training support. The team can also offer financial support by providing access to a range of grants and loans.

East Renfrewshire Council's aim is to take a flexible approach, on a case by case basis, and support all types of local businesses in East Renfrewshire to meet their needs. The team works closely with the Corporate Procurement Unit to support local supply chain development opportunities through advice, mentoring, workshops and “meet the buyer” events. The team also has a Community Benefits lead who can advise suppliers on their community benefits obligations and link them to local beneficiaries.

East Renfrewshire Council's Economic Development team can provide:

  • COVID-19 business recovery support;
  • Access to funding and support;
  • Business Gateway East Renfrewshire services;
  • A recruitment and aftercare service;
  • Information and advice on employer recruitment incentives; and
  • Community benefits advice and support.

The team will take the time to get to know you and your business so that we fully understand your needs. Economic Development staff include:

  • Michael McKernan - Team Leader - Economic Development, Employability and Regeneration
  • Julia Whitaker - Business Advisor - Business grants and growth advice
  • Lorna Wallace - Senior Development Officer - Community Benefits advice
  • Colin McNally - Business Gateway East Renfrewshire - Business advice

Suppliers can email East Renfrewshire Council's Economic Development team directly or visit the Economic Development website section for more information.

Further Information

East Renfrewshire Council has a myriad of links to further information that suppliers may find useful, including:

For more information, contact East Renfrewshire Council's Procurement team or Economic Development team.

East Renfrewshire Council is participating in a Twitter Takeover of the SDP Scotland account as part of SDP's Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event. You are encouraged to follow the #MeetTheBuyer2020 hashtag on Twitter and ask real time questions to the teams at East Renfrewshire Council between 11:00am and 12:00noon today, 2 June 2020.

The Supplier Development Programme offers free webinar training on Using PCS and PCS Tender and Improving Your Bid Score, which is available to SMEs and supported businesses in Scotland.

You are also welcome to email SDP Scotland with any other questions or to request further information.

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