Tag Archives: procurement

News

Supply Chain Disruption – Taking Stock – BCS Announces Findings From Latest Datacentre Survey

An optimistic sector with record levels of respondents (98%) seeing demand either maintained or increasing was an encouraging finding from The Winter Report 2021/22,  which is undertaken by independent research house IX Consulting and commissioned by BCS, (Business Critical Solutions) the specialist services provider to the digital infrastructure industry. It captures the views of over 3000 senior datacentre professionals across Europe, including owners, operators, developers, consultants and end users.

However, despite these findings – the highest levels of confidence since the survey began 14 years ago – there are real concerns within the industry about how to deliver this capacity against a backdrop of a shortage of key skills and the ongoing disruption in the supply chain. In fact 91% of respondents had experienced some issues over the past 12 months.  Disruptions were felt the hardest amongst our build professionals, with 69% of developer/investor respondents and 62% of design engineering and construction respondents reporting that in 2021 they had experienced significant supply chain volatility.

James Hart, CEO at BCS, said: “These well documented supply problems have led to delayed deliveries and higher prices. They are widespread and there is a general reduction in the supply and the reliability of supply visible in our sectors.  There are massive dislocations in the container market, shipping routes, ports, air cargo, trucking lines, railways and even warehouses. The result is shortages of key manufacturing components, order backlogs, delivery delays and a spike in transportation costs and consumer prices.

“Covid 19 has not only exacerbated these issues but has also brought about a shift in how we look at current supply chains.  Certainly, more companies and governments are reviewing their supply chains for critical items, with a mind towards security of supply as well as cost. Our expectation and recent experience is that supply chains are already shortening as a response to Covid, either via reshoring, or as companies try to diversify their sources of supply. We at BCS are helping clients through this process and have mapped supply chains associated with the deployment of data centres.”

To download The Winter Report 21/22 in full please click here: https://www.bcs.uk.com/winter-report-2021-supply-chain-disruption-taking-stock/

 

 

News

Procurement consultancy 4C Associates appoints Nick Muir as Managing Partner

European procurement and supply chain consultancy 4C Associates, announced the appointment of Nick Muir as new Managing Partner to lead the firm’s life sciences practice.

Nick Muir joins 4C as a Managing Partner from Deloitte, where he led the firm’s UK and EMEA procurement consulting business and held prior leadership roles including Global Operations Transformation Consulting Leader for Life Sciences. He joins 4C as a Partner and member of the Senior Leadership Team, focused on establishing a leading global life sciences procurement advisory practice capable of serving clients in North America, Europe and Asia.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have been asked by 4C to launch and lead a dedicated life sciences business from within this established, award winning, procurement consulting firm.”, says Nick Muir.

He started his consulting career advising private equity firms on cost related topics, subsequently supported governments to undertake major outsourcing efforts, and has also previously worked in consumer businesses and financial services organisations. Having spent the last ten years in the Life Sciences sector advising clients such as Novartis, GSK, AstraZeneca, Takeda, Roche and Astellas on their most complex cost and operational challenges, Muir has an established track record as a leading advisor to senior leadership at these major global organisations and is consistently trusted to deliver a lasting impact on ways of working and the P&L.

“Nick brings a wide range of operations and procurement experience to 4C Associates at a time of exponential growth, and I’m delighted to welcome him to the team”, says Simon Terry, CEO at 4C Associates.

“Return on investment in life sciences research and development continues to experience strong headwinds, creating a natural focus from executives on cost management and the role of procurement in supporting the enterprise. At the same time, increasingly mature procurement functions are demanding highly specialised and unique advisory support from consulting firms – be it to transform clinical trials procurement or in creating a consumer grade buying experience for enterprise end users.”, concluded Muir.

News, Recruitment News

MTC Marketing Research Solutions, honoured with the MRS’s and AQR’s Recruiter Accreditation Scheme (RAS).

MTC Marketing Research Solutions is one of the first ten recipients of the Recruiter Accreditation Scheme (RAS) for qualitative research developed by Market Research Society (MRS) and Association of Qualitative Researchers (AQR), to recognise the knowledge, skills and competence of professional recruiters – individuals and companies.
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MRS and AQR have honoured the company after the Managing Director, Cecilia Patterson, MA, DipMRS, CMRS, participated in the scheme and achieved an overall distinction in the assessment. Ras is for companies and individuals who undertake research recruitment as part of a wider research role and those that commission qualitative research. The AQR and MRS plan is that every research company involved with research participants and those interested in the role of qualitative recruitment must consider the RAS accreditation.

In commending her professional associations’ efforts, particularly in making sure that the industry as a whole adheres to Data Protection Act 2019 and the General Data Protection and Regulation (GDPR), Cecilia Patterson said: “We are in the knowledge sector and adhering to these principles is best practice and key for the survival of research providers considering primary research work depends on the goodwill of research participants who need to be respected and protected by all working in the research field.”
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The RAS accreditation award recognises the range of professional understanding of the qualitative researchers, particularly project management, principles and concepts of research, the role of research recruitment, legal and ethical requirements which underpin research.
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Cecilia Patterson is the founder of the research, insights, intelligence, analysis, consultancy at MTC Marketing Research Solutions, an MRS Company Partner. Should you wish to extend this discussion to how she may help your organisation as a commissioner of research visit https://tinyurl.com/ya52wopu

Cleaning & Facilities Management, Contract Wins, News

Significant Win for Incentive QAS

Leading contract cleaning specialists Incentive QAS, the cleaning arm of the Incentive FM Group, have secured a significant contract amidst unprecedented pressures within the sector. After 12 months of a delayed and competitive tender, Incentive QAS are now the chosen partner for 65 mixed-use properties across London and the South East of England for a leading property management company.

Our new client were forced to pause the procurement phase due to the pandemic but have now appointed Incentive QAS to oversee cleaning services within the 65-strong buildings portfolio that includes commercial property, business park, retail outlets and mixed-use commercial spaces. Incentive QAS will be delivering daily cleaning and housekeeping, washroom hygiene, pest control, window and periodic cleaning throughout the portfolio.

David Brown, Incentive QAS Commercial Director, said: “It’s a fantastic testament to our operations and our track record in securing this prestigious contract. We were told that we stood out as a front runner from the start, and it was our strong management structure, innovation, and experience in the industry that set us apart. The tender was very challenging, particularly with a backdrop of the pandemic, but we didn’t compromise our efforts or commitments during this time.”

Incentive QAS has now entered the mobilisation phase for the new contract, which is set to take around three months. Account Manager, Tony Hall, will be bringing his expertise and experience to oversee the commercial partnership. Worth over seven figures, this contract adds to Incentive QAS’ growing and enviable client list and portfolio.

David Brown added: “We’re really excited to deliver these services across the portfolio and we’re confident that our services will further strengthen their customer and client experiences across London, Greater London and the South East. We pride ourselves in prioritising innovation and manageable solutions across commercial and mixed-use spaces, and we look forward to delivering these services successfully over the duration of the contract.”

News

Keysource Chosen To Support UK Policing Via Fortrus Framework

Keysource, the global datacentre and critical environment specialist, has been selected to join the Fortrus Framework as an approved supplier of data centre services and solutions. Under the terms of the agreement Keysource will join the framework of organisations that have been strategically selected because they have the ability to provide UK policing with cost-effective and compliant technology solutions.

The Fortrus Framework is designed to give UK policing and other public sector organisations the ability to procure technology, including digital transformation and managed services, without the need for extended and costly procurement exercises. Keysource will offer its full range of its services from consultancy through to delivery and ongoing management.

Ted Pulfer, Enterprise & End User Sector Consultant at Keysource said: “This is a time of unrivalled digital change for many public sector organisations as they look to Digital Transformation to revolutionise the way IT services and solutions are procured, deployed, implemented and consumed. We have a long pedigree of advising on and managing high performance data centres both in the public and private sector and we are proud to have been selected as an approved supplier to police forces across the UK via this framework.”

Richard Jones, Head of Policing at Fortrus said: “Traditional procurement routes can be protracted and lack agility. Agility lies at the heart of the Fortrus Framework, as does partnership. Most procurement exercises are adversarial; they deliberately force public bodies to choose between suppliers rather than working with them collaboratively to get the best outcome. The Fortrus Framework enables public sector bodies to procure and deliver solutions that harness the best capabilities from specialist companies and we are delighted to welcome the expertise and experience that Keysource brings.”