Resources
it will also offer seminars and networking opportunities. You can also fi nd approved
suppliers by: ■ Speaking to your existing supplier to see if they offer additional products or services ■Asking for recommendations from other schools or your local authority, or by posting on Twitter ■ Contacting trade associations and using websites such as
trustatrader.com ■ Looking at third-party deals negotiated by organisations you are part of. The NAHT, for example, has special offers with carefully selected partners (
naht.org.uk/affi nity). E-commerce platforms are useful for locating multiple vendors and products ‘under one banner’. These include online marketplaces (such as eBay and Amazon), and price comparison websites (such as
comparethemarket.com and
idealo.co.uk), and deal aggregators (such as
allthedeals.co.uk). Price-tracking websites and
browser extensions allow you to source goods quickly and effi ciently. Websites such as Price Spy (
pricespy.co.uk) can help you determine the best time to buy and who to buy from. Price Spy provides information about daily deals and a full pricing history of products. You can also set up alerts for products you are sourcing, so that you are notifi ed when prices drop to a price level you specify. These trackers are an effi cient way to research and stay up to date with the market.
Clearance sales Clearance stock is often sold brand-new and in perfect condition, but is cheaper than the RRP because it is end-of- line, and the seller needs to make way for new stock. Many businesses sell clearance items on their websites. Big-name retailers such as Argos and Tesco have eBay outlets
for clearance stock, while others release their stock to clearance wholesalers. Schools can also purchase discontinued stock from redistribution charities such as In Kind Direct (
inkinddirect.org.uk). You could even ask businesses directly if they have any surplus stock.
Refurbished products
A range of resources can be bought second-hand and refurbished, saving perfectly good items from going to landfill.
Amazon offers a ‘certifi ed
refurbished’ programme to ensure that buyers feel confi dent about the quality of products on offer. Only carefully approved sellers can offer certifi ed refurbished products, as goods must be inspected, tested, cleaned and repaired to ‘look and work like new’, and come with a minimum one-year warranty.
Bulk buying The bigger your order, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to negotiate on costs and deals. Buyers can buy in bulk (and even job lots) on sites like eBay and Amazon. Many wholesalers also have a minimum order threshold, which will qualify bulk buyers for lower unit costs and free delivery. Even small schools can bulk-buy by placing one large order instead of multiple smaller ones across the year, or joint purchasing with
other buyers (whether that be schools or buying hubs, or by using framework agreements).
Using a framework
When it comes to making high-value purchases, schools can choose to manage the
tendering process themselves, or they can use a procurement specialist framework. There are lots of benefi ts to using a framework: it saves time and work (as deals have already been negotiated) and you have assurance that deals are legally compliant and approved. If anything goes wrong, you will be supported by the organisation that negotiated the framework. You can fi nd a DfE- approved framework at
gov.uk/ guidance/fi nd-a-dfe-approved- framework-for-your-school.
Good decisions As well as securing best value, it’s important to avoid making costly mistakes. Make sure you follow your school’s procurement procedures and get written confi rmation of agreements (ask experts to look over these). Avoid late charges and fi nes by keeping track of key dates for payments, contract renewal, notice periods, deadlines for returning equipment, etc. Spot and fi x problems early and make sure resources are used properly to extend the life of purchases. Make use of warranties and guarantees (including money-back and price- match guarantees). Think through purchases carefully – don’t buy ICT equipment without school-wide consultation as you will need to ensure compatibility with the rest of the schools’ infrastructure.
■ For further guidance, see the DfE’s guide Buying for Schools at
gov.uk/ guidance/buying-for-schools.
FundEd SUMMER 2020 49
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