SW RIEP: 24 October 2008

With governments use of consultancy and temporary staff rarely out of the political and media spotlight and as an area of significant annual spend across the public sector, procurement and the use of these services across Councils is a hot topic. Questions include:

• How can the public sector buy these services better?
• How can we ensure we get value for money?
• How can we improve quality?
• How can we reduce our requirement and help maximise our use of resources?

This is equally important for the South West region where an estimated 400m is spent every year on these 2 areas alone! Given the CSR07 targets, finding savings within professional services spend is high on the agenda.

This event, hosted by SW RIEP, aims to address spend within temporary staffing and consultancy by providing practical and collaborative ways in which organisations can seek to gain better value for money. Category experts from both local and central government will share their market knowledge, provide case studies and share tools and techniques to support improvements to procurement and the use of resources across the region within temporary staffing and consultancy. The workshop will explore the possibility of collaboration within the South West in these high spend areas and will be of interest to procurement, HR and finance professionals.

Download additional information and book your place online from the following link:

http://www.southwestiep.gov.uk/Events/Eventprofessionalservices0601108.htm

For further information contact:

Gillian Brindle - 01305 757230, g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Proclass Launch – 18^th November 2008, Taunton

Proclass is the procurement classification standard for local government following its adoption by eight of the nine Regional Centres of Excellence in 2006. Proclass continues to be backed by the RIEPs.

This event is suitable for all local authorities and any public sector organisation that wishes to understand more about ProClass as well as other classification and coding structures.

The programme will help attendees to:

• Use ProClass properly and have confidence that it is the right choice.
• Hear about authorities which have tested and proven ProClass and its recommended methodologies
• Learn how to use ProClass to support corporate goals of effective collaboration, improved shared services and realistic business case development
• Understand the opportunities to influence and benefit from the ProClass community
• Network with other authorities who are trying to achieve the same things

Download additional information and book your place online from the following link:

http://www.southwestiep.gov.uk/Events/Eventproclass181108.htm

For further information contact

Gillian Brindle - 01305 757230, g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk

BTEC Advanced Award for Local Government Member Champions

This is a comprehensive programme for Member Champions.The qualification has been designed specifically for those working in this environment.Edexcel has accredited the qualification at Level 3.

The course aim is to explore the role of the Member Champion as part of the community leadership role.The course will also encourage the creation of a mutually supportive culture among appointed Champions and relevant agencies.Candidates are encouraged to complete the qualification within six months of commencement.The price is fully inclusive and covers access to the course material, in addition to the Awarding Body’s registration, assessment, verification and certification fees.

Candidates are required to build a portfolio of evidence to meet the assessment criteria. This will be a collection of evidence gathered from course exercises and work activities.

South West Employers currently has a limited number of subsidised places available at £249 per member (full price £649).

For further information contact:

South West Employers - 01823 27010, training@southwest-ra.gov.uk