procurement

The importance of procurement to city economies

This article explores why procurement is increasingly being seen as a way of addressing some of the economic, social and environmental issues facing our cities. It does this through reflecting on: the legislative framework for procurement; the activities of the Procure network; the importance of understanding where procurement spend goes; and how social considerations can be more effectively embedded into procurement processes.

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  • CLES continues to advance a good local economy across Europe

    31 May. 2016

  • Greater Manchester Social Value Network

    19 Apr. 2016

  • Community Wealth Building: Harnessing the potential of anchor institutions

    23 Mar. 2016

  • CLES advances a good local economy across Europe

    08 Oct. 2015

    • Time for home: lessons learned from the US

    I have spent the last three weeks in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Providence exploring how those cities have responded to economic decline and indeed economic opportunity. I have been fascinated by the levels of collaboration, the role of anchor institutions, the scale of foundation resource, and the ability to raise and redistribute taxation as means of enabling that response. While I have seen lots of good work in those localities, I have also been amazed by the scale of the remaining challenge, particularly in terms of addressing inequality.

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    Keep spending local: it brings benefits

    Public sector organisations like councils and colleges can do much to work with suppliers on their doorstep and stimulate local economies. In Lancashire work is underway to ‘repatriate’ spending. Anchor institutions are crucial components of our towns and cities. Commonly including local authorities, further and higher education providers, and housing organisations, they are key employers and procurers, embedded in their communities and unlikely to leave. In a UK context, the potential of anchor institutions to contribute to wider local economic development has been untapped – until now.

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  • Creating a good local economy: the role of anchor institutions

    22 Apr. 2015

  • Local devolution must deliver a 'double dividend'

    02 Feb. 2015

    • Local government needs to address low pay

    The UK is in the midst of a low pay crisis. Over 5 million people do not earn a wage which is sufficient to afford them a ‘decent’ quality of life. Wages across a raft of sectors are not rising in line with the cost of living and particularly costs associated with housing, fuel and food.

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  • RESEARCH

    Living wage and the role of local government

    3rd November 2014
    170.2kB     .pdf
    Developed by CLES in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Living Wage campaign this think piece identifies a number of key ro...

  • Implications of a living wage

    10 Oct. 2014

    • Community wealth building: tackling inequality and poverty locally

    Many local places face significant challenges. On the one hand, sluggish or no growth, coupled to rising inequality and poverty is placing significant pressure on public services. On the other, austerity and cuts to local government and public services are reducing the ability by which the public sector can act. There is a lot of commentary about the causes of inequality and poverty but a lack of real action.

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    Public spending: it ain’t just about efficiencies

    In November last year, I was delighted to be asked to give evidence to the communities and local government committee inquiry into local government procurement. The session gave Cles the opportunity to highlight the work we have been undertaking over the last five years on local government spend and how to use it for creating great economies, lives and places.

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  • FINDINGS

    The economic impact of Belfast City Council's spend

    12th March 2014
    195.4kB     .pdf
    CLES offered Belfast City a series of recommendations as to how they could maximise the impact of their spend. Whilst directly a r...