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Purchasing and insurance

This service is provided to promote good purchasing practice across the University and thereby ensure the effective and efficient use of resources.

The service objectives are to negotiate the best value for money deals and terms on behalf of the University. A brief synopsis of the service is as follows:

• To negotiate and arrange central contracts in respect of goods and services purchased throughout the University.
• To offer purchasing advice to Schools and Departments as and when required.
• To assist Schools and Departments when purchasing goods and services.
• To negotiate discounts with suppliers.

The Purchasing Section is continuously working to improve supplier quality and is looking to reduce the number of
suppliers that the University uses. The supplier base is currently over 18,000 suppliers and is costing the University
money. It costs approximately £30-£50 for every purchase order produced. By reducing the number of suppliers we
use we can reduce the number of orders we produce, the number of invoices we process and the number of cheques we send out.

A reduced supplier base also enables the Birmingham City University to build up partnerships with suppliers, leading to improved terms/conditions and co-operation. Even if there is not a central contract in place the Purchasing Section has produced a preferred supplier list which you may find useful. We also arrange Supplier Exhibition that give you the chance to meet some of the suppliers and find out what goods and services are on offer.

Please contact us on the purchasing email address.

David Wright (ext. 5714) is the Purchasing & Insurance Manager and has over 20 years experience in purchasing,
David has worked both in the public and private sectors and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing Supply (CIPS) and the Association of University Procurement Officers (AUPO) David is also a member of the Institute of Travel Management.

John Thompson (ext. 7677) is a Contracts Manager and has worked in a Purchasing environment for over 8 years both in the Public and Private sectors. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing Supply (CIPS) and the Association of University Procurement Officers (AUPO).

Steve Beesley (ext. 7677) is a Contracts Manager and has worked in a Purchasing environment for over 15 years
both in the Public and Private sectors. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing Supply (CIPS) and the Association of University Procurement Officers (AUPO).