Council shortlisted for national procurement award

Tower Hamlets Council has been shortlisted for a national award for the procurement work it has undertaken to deliver social care services in the borough.
The council achieved coveted finalist status in the National Government Opportunities (GO) Excellence in Public Procurement Awards 2014/15 in the category for GO Procurement Innovation or Initiative of the Year Award for Health and Health Related Organisations
The nomination was for the work the council has undertaken in promoting the development of a consortia made up of local third sector organisations that are able to bid competitively for social care tenders; it has further developed ways of procuring services that enable and support successful consortia tenders.
The initiative included changing both the council’s internal procurement procedures and processes, and the way the council engages with local social care providers.
The council has so far completed three major procurement exercises resulting in three successful services being commissioned. The services have delivered outcomes which demonstrate the ground-breaking and innovative aspects of this initiative which have resulted in enhanced local partnership working, greater benefits to local people and added value for the council.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman said: “This is a fantastic recognition, especially given the record level of competition from across the UK for these awards. While we will not know whether we will go on to win the Award until 19 March, even achieving finalist status is a great commendation for all involved.”
Grahame Steed, Lead Judge, National GO Awards 2014/15 said: “This year’s submissions into the National GO Awards demonstrated the incredible breadth and depth of activity, innovation and commitment across the sector. The judging panel were impressed by the desire of all shapes and sizes of organisation to make positive change to their approach to procurement. Every finalist deserves the recognition that the National GO Awards bring, and we look forward to the presentation ceremony on 19 March in front of the leading influencers and decision makers in this sector.”