- Dedicated cross-category neutral vendor model and wrap-around service for schools
- Schools Council created to inform and guide best practice procurement
Constellia, the leading procurement specialists, has today, 12th July, announced the launch of its procurement solution for schools – designed to help multi-academy trusts (MATs) reduce spend and risk by having access to an approved marketplace of suppliers. This will be aided by the Constellia Schools Procurement Council, which has been created to inform and guide best practice procurement in schools.
Constellia’s compliant neutral vendor model aims to address the hugely complex procurement landscape head-on, providing an effective service and the dedicated support that schools and academies badly need.
Rob Levene, CEO, of Constellia, said: ‘’We understand the importance and pressure schools face in delivering efficient, effective, and compliant procurement exercises. Over the past 12 months, we have adapted our tried and tested Neutral Vendor MSP solution to the specific needs of schools. We are truly excited to announce the launch of Constellia for Schools, giving schools confidence and control in everything they procure.”
Constellia for Schools has received endorsement from Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (BWCET), the largest Catholic Trust in the North East of England, after successfully conducting a pilot in 2021. During the pilot, Constellia appointed local SMEs to deliver three IT infrastructure projects for the Trust that were unavailable on other frameworks. It is through this pilot that Constellia realised the potential of how its procurement model could transform procurement in schools and the need to create a dedicated procurement community for school leaders.
The Constellia Schools Council, which will be Chaired by Nick Hurn OBE, CEO of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, will aim to bring together CEOs and CFOs of MATs across the country to discuss and debate best practice for procurement in schools through in-person and digital events.
Hurn commented: ‘’I am delighted to Chair the Constellia Schools Procurement Council. We believe it will play a critical role in accelerating best practice procurement in MATs across the country with the ultimate aim of schools benefiting from rapid, efficient and cost-effective purchasing of goods, works and services. As a Trust, it is our mission to help our schools get the most value out of their available resources and enable them to meet the needs of their pupils and their families. By being part of a community, which drives best practices in procurement, we hope that other Trusts can realise the same outcomes.”
Key benefits of the Constellia neutral vendor model for Schools include:
- Driving cost savings of up to 20%
- Access to a pre-vetted marketplace of suppliers
- On-demand procurement expertise to support with writing specifications, running competitions, evaluating proposals, and managing contracts
- Increase control and visibility
- Direct awards in up to five days and a mini competition in ten
Levene concluded: “Constellia have a long heritage in bringing together individuals to network and share best practice and ideas that deliver improved outcomes, such as our work with the Consultancy Procurement Council. We are delighted to extend this offering to schools and are confident that it, along with our neutral vendor model for schools, will make a real difference.”
For more information or to register your interest, email schools@constellia.com or call us on 0330 320 8020. Alternatively, visit our webpage here.