12 March 2019 
Emma Keenan, Procurement Specialist
Data gathered during the recent procurement value survey (PVS) has provided clear insight into the value of university purchasing teams. The survey, a non-mandatory annual return for universities in England asks institutions to provide spend and efficiency data for each financial year.
The information provided by 89 universities for the year ending July 2018 revealed:
New to the survey this year was the request for procurement teams to tell us how the work they do directly impacts students. We received many excellent examples which we will share via case studies during the coming months, however an excerpt from a fuller statement from the Head of Procurement at York St John provided a good illustration:
“We recognise that it not sufficient to merely be commercially dexterous in the face of a changing higher education sector, but that the way we do business with our supply chains also must also reflect the ethos and aspirations of our student community”
With procurement teams costing on average just 0.4% of the total impactable spend of an institution it is demonstrably money well spent.
The full report, which breaks down the data by institution size can be accessed by Finance Directors and Heads of procurement or by contacting emma@hepa.ac.uk
