30 March 2006
The entry period for the CIPS Supply Management Awards 2006 is open from today.
The awards are designed to celebrate and reward excellence in the field of purchasing and supply management.
There are 10 team categories, including "best public procurement project" and "most improved purchasing operation", which is split into two - start-up and step-change. There are also two individual awards for the "CIPS Purchasing and Supply Management Professional of the Year", under and over the age of 30.
New judges include Tim Ussher, director of procurement at BSkyB, Tom Rae, senior vice-president of corporate purchasing at Continental AG, and Tom Kinnaird, head of commercial and procurement services at WPP.
Chair of the judging panel is Gerry Walsh, CIPS vice-president.
Ariba is the event's headline sponsor for the third year. Hays Purchasing & Supply and Atos Consulting also return as sponsors.
The Office of Government Commerce and RS are supporting the event for the first time.
Applicants have until 26 May to get their entries in.
The awards dinner will be held on 26 October at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
For details and an entry form, see the launch supplement with this issue (UK readers only) or visit the awards' website,
www.cipssmawards.com SMmar2006
