Schools & Colleges

We have a strong track record of providing procurement support within the education sector. Examples include:

Further Education Colleges

• We're currently providing ongoing procurement support to several FE Colleges. Support includes tendering for higher value services, ensuring compliance with the European Procurement Regulations; staff training; price benchmarking; setting up service level agreements with key suppliers.
• We've audited many College procurement functions - reviewing their procurement strategy, processes, procedures, staff skills, tendering and contract management capabilities. We've then provided action plans for efficiency improvements which result in significant cost savings and reduced supplier risk.
• We were engaged by the National Audit Office to provide advice and assistance when they reviewed procurement across the FE College sector in England.

Procurement Support for Academies & Specialist Schools

• The BSA are offering all SSAT Member Schools the opportunity to join our Buying Group without charge and benchmark their existing overhead cost categories.
• We're able to save these schools significant sums of money across several areas of cost, including stationery, educational supplies, gas and electricity, photocopiers, telecoms, franking, cleaning and catering supplies to name but a few.
• More schools are looking to buy "green" products to help them to become more sustainable and to reduce their carbon footprint. Our sister site, www.greenbuying.co.uk has been set up specifically to help buyers source eco friendly products online and SSAT members enjoy a 5% discount off all prices. Products for sale include recycled stationery, recycling bins, low energy lightbulbs, energy standby products, biodegradeable food service products, green computers.

Independent Schools & Pre-School Nurseries

We can also support private schools and nurseries to reduce overhead costs via our Buying Group - a recent example saw a group of nursery schools in London save 24% and 22% on their catering and stationery costs respectively thanks to our buying power.

If you're an FE College Vice Principal (Finance) or School Bursar and are seeking ways to reduce supplier costs and ensure good governance in your purchasing practices then please call us on 0845 5553344 for a discussion without obligation. We will be happy to provide references.