This session is an introduction to the basics of procurement for local councils – inviting quotes, producing specifications and tender documentation, achieving competition and value for money, managing contracts.

Topics include:
• Procurement thresholds
• Basic terminology and steps involved in procurement
• Estimates, quotes and tenders
• Specifications
• Quality and value for money
• Advertising, including Contracts Finder

Session benefits:
By the end of Contracts and Procurement you will:
• Be aware of procurement thresholds
• Recognise when you must advertise on Contracts Finder
• Understand how to produce a specification for what you want
• Understand the basic terminology and steps involved in procurement
• Be able to ensure your procurement achieves value for money

Who should attend
Clerks, Officers and Councillors involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

Course Tutor
Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP

Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years' experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Cost per delegate
£30+ VAT Members
£60+ VAT Non Members

Please note fee increase from 1 April 2023

Cost (per delegate)
£33+ VAT member
£66+ VAT non member

Please note: the course is open to all county associations and will therefore have clerks and councillors not from Northamptonshire in attendance. We hope that this will allow for this course to be delivered more often and throughout the year.

When booking onto this course, the details that you provide will be used to book you onto a third party website where you will receive booking confirmation. Your details will only be used for the purposes of sending joining instructions.