Public Sector ICT Purchasers

The Public Sector faces three major challenges when procuring ICT solutions:

• Meeting the Efficiency Agenda
• Reducing risk in projects
• Promoting the use of local Suppliers

Often these three challenges may seem difficult to satisfy – one may seem to contradict the other. For example, how can risk be reduced while using local suppliers?

The Efficiency Agenda

The Gershon Review laid down stringent targets to be met by the Public Sector. Local government was set the burden of reducing expenditure by 7.5% while maintaining, or indeed improving, service levels.

ICT was identified as a key way in which efficiency gains could be brought about. However, ICT by its very nature can be a costly business – money has to be spent in order to reap long-term benefits. Even running a procurement exercise for such projects can be costly and time consuming.

Accredit UK is able to help improve efficiency in two ways:

• Because Accredit UK is a rigorous quality certification scheme, and has been designed with the engagement of public sector purchasers, it can help reduce procurement spend. Accredit UK-certified Suppliers have already gone through a tough process that is more demanding than most Pre-Qualification exercises. Why not use Accredit UK as the benchmark for future Suppliers?
• Accredit UK-certified Suppliers are by their very nature both efficient and proficient. Their performance levels are higher than their counterparts, so projects run more smoothly and therefore cost less.

Reducing Risk

Because Accredit UK-certified Suppliers are the best in the industry, their performance will match or exceed expectations. They can be relied upon to deliver to their promises.

During the certification process, Suppliers are rigorously vetted to ensure their competence. Furthermore, the Standard helps most businesses improve their own people, processes and performance. The result is that projects are delivered correctly – meaning a drastic reduction in risk for Purchasers.

Local Suppliers

Because of the need to reduce risk, the Public Sector often turns to larger, more familiar Suppliers. The result is twofold: expenditure goes out of the region and costs are often higher.

Larger Suppliers often sub-contract specialist work themselves, with the obvious price that this incurs.

Why not go directly to specialist Suppliers and both cut the costs and keep employment within the region?

Accredit UK – Championing Your Challenges

By using Accredit UK-certified Suppliers, the public sector can reduce costs in procurement and delivery, reduce risk and use smaller local businesses. Accredit UK takes the headache out of ICT procurement.