We’re delighted to welcome Lucy Weir to GBS Procure as our new Procurement Apprentice. Lucy joined the team on 26 October 2026 and will be gaining hands-on experience across our procurement projects while working towards her CIPS Level 4 Procurement and Supply apprenticeship. Building on previous experience Lucy joins GBS following her degree in Environment and Business at the University of Leeds. During her studies, she also completed a year-long placement with Uniper, where

Before suppliers can provide a strong response, they need to understand exactly what you are asking them to deliver. A clear specification should make it easy to understand: → What is in scope — and what isn’t → The outcomes the organisation needs to achieve → The standards and requirements suppliers must meet → Where responsibilities sit between the organisation and supplier → How performance will be measured once the contract is live Without that clarity, the impact can con

A well-written evaluation model only works if everyone understands how to apply it consistently. Different interpretations of the same criteria can lead to very different scores, which is why evaluator guidance and moderation are so important. A strong evaluation process should help evaluators: → Understand the criteria and scoring methodology → Assess responses against the same standards → Record clear reasons for their scores → Discuss differences through moderation → Reach

Some of the most important procurement decisions happen well before the opportunity reaches the market. Taking time at the outset to understand the requirement, engage with stakeholders, consider the market and choose the right route to market can make the procurement process much smoother later on. Early planning can help organisations: → Define what they actually need → Understand the supplier market → Identify risks and dependencies → Build realistic timescales → Choose an

Good procurement planning starts much earlier. Giving yourself enough time before a contract ends makes it easier to review what is working, understand what needs to change and choose the right route to market without unnecessary pressure. Planning earlier also creates more time to: → Review contract performance and lessons learned → Engage the right stakeholders → Test the market → Develop clear tender documentation → Run a fair and proportionate evaluation process → Complet

Contract value is only one part of the picture. A lower-value agreement can still affect resident services, compliance, health and safety, operational continuity or supplier performance. That is why proportionate procurement should consider more than spend alone. When reviewing contracts, it helps to look at: - the importance of the service - the impact of supplier failure - how easily the contract could be replaced - the strength of current records and controls - what happen

Good procurement records are not about creating paperwork for its own sake. They should make it clear what was being procured, why the route was chosen, how suppliers were evaluated, who approved the decision and what evidence supports the outcome. When those records are missing or inconsistent, it becomes harder to answer questions from auditors, boards, colleagues or suppliers. A clear process creates a clear decision trail. Proper records. Better governance. Procurement de

A useful contract register should help teams understand: - what contracts are in place - who owns them - when action is needed - what the organisation is spending - where supplier or renewal risks may be building Without that visibility, procurement planning becomes harder, renewals can be missed and it becomes more difficult to demonstrate value for money. Good contract management starts with clear, usable records. Clear records. Better contracts. Less procurement risk.

Suppliers often understand their service well, but that knowledge does not always come through clearly in a submission. A good response should answer the question directly, follow the requested structure and use specific evidence to show how delivery will work. It should also make clear: - who will do what - how performance will be measured - what experience supports the approach - how the response meets the requirement Evaluators should not have to search for the answer or i