Blog

Commissioning: Benefits of Market Engagement

04 December 2018 By Lesley Harper - Social Care Category Manager

Effective commissioning of health and social care services starts with having a sound understanding of the needs of service users, the outcomes you’re trying to achieve or the gap you’re trying to fill.

Top tips to encourage teenagers into libraries

03 December 2018 By Alexandra Wainwright – Furniture and Design Project Manager

Having spent several years planning and designing school and public libraries, one of the issues mentioned in design consolation meetings is how to encourage teenagers to read more. A recent study conducted by The Reading Agency states that 44% of young people in England don’t read for pleasure. This is becoming ever increasing with the availability of digital and social media in teenagers’ lives, whether it be through e-books, online articles, smart phones or tablets.

Benefits of care technology for social care

29 November 2018 By Lesley Harper - Social Care Category Manager

Care technology is not new to social care. Analogue technology such as personal alarms and mobile warden services, have been used for decades in sheltered housing to help people remain independent and safe.

What is business travel?

27 November 2018 By Alex Detheridge - Click Travel

When you hear the word travel, you instantly think of your annual holiday away from work and responsibilities, or the dreaded commute to and from the office. But what is business travel?

Stay active during the winter months

22 November 2018 By Gemma Maw, Category Buyer for Sports and SEN

As we come into the long, dark and cold winter days it is very easy to want to just hibernate on the sofa under a warm cosy blanket, watch television or play video games. Staying active over the winter months is important to keep children’s fitness and activity levels high which further helps to instil healthy habits.

Five things to note when procuring an EAP

21 November 2018 By Jess Carey, Bid Writer - Health Assured

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are a large and growing requirement within the workplace, with the CIPD reporting that, of those that completed the Health and Well-being at Work Survey, 63% of organisations use EAPs to identify and reduce stress in the workplace.

Six months on of Meet the Buyer

21 November 2018 By Gillian Askew, Head of Procurement Services

AI and the rise of Virtual Worker

07 November 2018 By Ashley Cartwright, Category Manager - ICT Innovation

As we move into what is commonly dubbed as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” businesses are evolving at increasing speed. Customers are expecting more and more from their service providers, making technological flexibility and work-place productivity paramount in staying on top of demand.

Meet the Buyer - Lucy Simpson

26 October 2018 By Lucy Simpson, Category Buyer - Corporate Services

Lucy joined the corporate services team in June and is passionate about public sector procurement and helping tackle the challenges our customers face.

Making connections in art, craft and design

26 October 2018 By Susan Coles - Creativity, arts and educational consultant and artist

One of the best things about teaching art, craft and design is that there is so much choice. It is also important to remember that we teach art AND craft AND design and that a successful art curriculum will involve all of these. We should build assessment through four different skills.