6 December 2010 | Angeline Albert
CIPS CEO David Noble has been appointed to the UK government’s Procurement Executive Board set up to help improve public sector buying.
As the only member from outside government, Noble will assist in the transformation of existing procurement capability across departments. His role is a non-voting position.
The board’s aim is to transform how government buys common goods and services through centralised category management, standardisation of specification, and aggregation of spend, to deliver savings from the baseline of £13 billion, in the region of 25 per cent over four years.
Noble said: “The board will play a crucial role in developing strategies to bring the UK deficit down and I'm proud to be part of it. Our underlying goal at CIPS is to enhance the profession in everything we do and the board is part of our mission to show that procurement and supply management adds real value.
"Private sector knowledge shouldn't be discounted in a public sector realm, and each sector can learn from the other. I hope what I bring to the table will make a difference to the aims of the board, not least, advice on how to make substantial gains with cost reduction strategies to make those much-needed savings, and with as little pain as possible.”
John Collington, head of procurement within the Cabinet Office’s Efficiency and Reform Group, said: “I am delighted to have David join our new Procurement Executive Board. He will bring a wealth of experience and access to current best practice thinking from across the procurement world, both of which are essential as we look to change and improve what and how central government buys.”
Former Home Office group commercial director Collington became the most senior procurement figure in the UK government on 1 September when took up his current role. His remit is to spearhead a cross-government approach to procurement and its supply chain to make the best use of its combined purchasing power and get better value for money.
He is also now a member of the CIPS Board of Management.
