Over the past 4-5 months, there has been a significant focus to develop the oneSource procurement function. Alongside this (and partly as a result) there has been a growing realisation and expectation of the value that the department can offer: from helping to address the budgetary pressures that both Newham and Havering Councils face; to delivering broader social value within the local economy as part of a Community Wealth Building Strategy.

 

oneSource procurement has been operational since 2014 and whilst it has been partially successful in delivering a basic procurement service, centred around tendering activity to both Newham and Havering, there are a number of issues surrounding procurement that this development has sought to address. These have largely concentrated on data quality; planning & resource management; people skills; and absence of a performance culture.

 

A lot of progress has been made but the incoming permanent Head of Procurement will face a number of key challenges:

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• They will need to ensure the fundamental changes mentioned above are cemented and do not start to degrade.

• As part of an operational model that will have been agreed to develop procurement to a more strategic role, they will need to implement the necessary change to make this happen.

• They will need to recruit a number of new members of the team (c. 6) and devleop other existing members of staff who will be starting new roles as part of the restructure that will support the operating model. They will need to find ways to create a high performing team against a backdrop of payscales that can make this challenging.

• Whilst they are doing this, they will need to preserve (and continue to grow) the improving reputation of the department.

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