Introduction
Our Commercial and Procurement Strategy is one of six strategies which set out our aims over the next four years. It outlines how we will help everyone that works for us to perform their roles by
buying fit for purpose goods and services, and how we will demonstrate value for money when we do.
Our team focusses on five key areas, which are:
- Operations
- Technology
- Fleet and professional services
- Facilities management and construction
- Personal protective equipment and clothing
In 2018 we adopted an approach called category management. The principle, as defined by the Chartered Institute for Purchasing and Supply, is that category management is an approach which organises our resources to focus on specific areas of spend. The results can be greater than traditional transactional based purchasing methods. A structured category management approach helps us generate savings, but also improve supplier performance, reduce supply risks, and drive innovation and continuous improvement. We profile, benchmark, research and assess the market, and look for any risks and trends and new opportunities constantly. We are developing an expert level of knowledge in each category and we will maintain this approach.
We are committed to protecting human rights of all who come into contact with us, including customers, supply chain workers, local communities and everyone that works for us, through our zero tolerance of slavery, servitude, forced labour, bonded labour and human trafficking. We believe in making the opportunities we publish inclusive and accessible, and our evaluation of proposals is undertaken using objective and non-discriminatory criteria.
We lead the national procurement hub arrangements for procurement, and never was this more important than during the pandemic, when personal protective equipment was needed urgently across the sector. We contribute a large amount of time to supporting better procurement by all fire and rescue services nationally. In line with the expectations of the Home Office, we will continue to promote collaborative procurement as a way for all to reduce their costs, and so that we present a joined up approach to suppliers when we go to market.
