22 January 2021 
Ashley Shelbrooke, HEPA and Project Specialist
Welcome to the January 2021 HEPA Digest, including details of some of the time to talk sessions, training and events that we have in the pipeline for you over the coming weeks, as well as the PVS and our 2021 Conference.
We are really pleased to be able to welcome Neil Hall and Sam Hunt of Crown Commercial Service to explore EU Exit logistics solutions, including freight forwarding and the procurement options available through the Warehousing & Logistics framework.
Bookings are free for all members, there is no limit on numbers, and you can secure your place here.
David Miller from the Customs People is going to run a Time to Talk on the impact of the Trade Agreement and specifically the EU Rules of Origin, on HEIs. There is a general misconception in the press that the Trade Deal removed the "problem" of paying import duty on movements of goods from the EU and this is not the case - meeting the conditions on, and proving, EU origin are key. David has shared this high level summary with members.
Please find the link to book onto this free event here.
Influencing stakeholders is a key skill for procurement practitioners.
Join colleagues form across procurement and finance for this online, facilitated workshop, spread over two 3-hour modules, to gain insights into your own, and others’ communications preferences; know how and when to adjust your influencing style situationally and be able to present compelling cases to non-Finance audiences to develop your credibility and impact. Book your place here!
Action Learning is a powerful development experience for leaders. It brings people together to exchange, support and challenge each other in action and learning.
In partnership with our equivalent organisations across Research, Estates, Internal Audit, Strategic Planning, Libraries, IT and HR we are pleased to open expressions of interest for the next cohort of Action Learning Sets to Senior Procurement Leaders (Assistant / Deputy / Head of – or equivalent). You can find out more and express your interest here.
If you have not already done so, there is still time to submit your PVS return!
Bookings for the BUFDG Conference are open and we are really pleased to have released the agenda, including details of the plenary and workshop sessions running on the procurement Wednesday! Many thanks to those who fed back their requests for content following my email last month. Please do liaise with your FD to ensure your place on your institution’s group ticket.
On the Thursday of the Conference we are designing a HEPA workshop to demonstrate the value of procurement. Please do get in touch if you would like to share the work of your team at the Conference and showcase best practise to the sector.
Finally, I am sure that by now you will have seen the Cabinet Office Green Paper on Transforming Public Procurement? Keep an eye out for next month’s Digest where we will have details of how you can share your thoughts on the consultation, and on a HE sector-wide response.
