The University of Derby provides industry-relevant, expert teaching, from foundation and undergraduate degrees through to postgraduate study and research.
Rated Gold in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF), its academic strength is backed up by practical experience to ensure students are ready for a successful career.
The University was named University of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards 2020 and Higher Education Institution of the Year at the 2020 NEON (National Education Opportunities Network) Awards. They also won the Guardian University Award 2020 for Social and Community Impact.
Ensuring that the University adopts ethical and professional procurement practices and processes is a key business requirement.
FPA Consulting were personally recommended by the University’s existing Head of Procurement to provide an Interim Procurement Manager.
One of our Procurement Consultants undertook the five month assignment covering for their Head of Procurement, reporting directly to the Deputy CEO and Finance Director. This allowed the University to optimise their strategic procurement recruitment plan.
As part of the five-month interim assignment, we also carried out a procurement healthcheck to review their current procurement activities and identify areas for improvement.
With an extensive knowledge of public sector procurement, the interim procurement manager brought capabilities to the University and ensured works, goods and services contracts were well managed.
During this period, several design and build construction projects, ranging in value from £250k to £3m were awarded. The University’s devolved procurement structure was also managed to ensure that best value was secured.
“Appointing FPA Consulting on an interim basis helped to ensure continuity of our business practices and also reassurance that our strict procurement policies and procedures would be maintained.”
Head of ProcurementThis waste management procurement project involved a detailed assessment of the two current arrangements to firstly determine their suitability in relation to the day to day operational needs of the school and, secondly, to evaluate whether or not they were providing value for money. We then provided ongoing post-contract support for the subsequent new agreement.
