Collaborative Purchasing

Smarter Spending Through Collaboration

seminar brief

In today’s education landscape, where staffing costs swallow the lion’s share of school budgets, the pressure is on to deliver efficiencies from the shrinking pot of non-staffing spend. Collaborative purchasing offers a practical, proven route to significant cost savings, better contract terms, and improved access to expertise – all without sacrificing quality or compliance.

This seminar will explore how schools can save by joining forces on procurement – from simple shared orders between local schools, to fully integrated multi-academy trust contracts and use of national frameworks. Whether you’re part of a trust, a maintained school, or an informal network, this session will help you identify the level of collaboration that fits your setting – and show you how to build on it.

TAKE home points

understanding of levels of collaborative purchasing, tools and, insights into how to evaluate risk, practical examples, joined-up procurement strategies

IN THIS SEMINAR WE WILL EXPLORE

• A brief overview of the key changes in the Procurement Act 2023

• Why collaborative purchasing is a force-multiplier – and how to make it work in your context

• The 5 levels of collaboration: internal, informal, formal, frameworks, and supplier partnerships

• How to assess which goods and services are suitable for collaboration – and which aren’t

• Building the right internal systems for pooled ordering, benchmarking, and contract management

• Where to find support – from DfE tools to public sector buying organisations and trusted frameworks

THIS SESSION IS FOR SCHOOL BUSINESS LEADERS WHO

Want to unlock financial efficiencies without compromising quality – and who are open to joining forces with others to maximise purchasing power. Whether you’re already part of a trust or just starting to consider collaboration with peers, this session will offer practical, scalable solutions.