Tackling the sustainability agenda in construction and building assets: why the public sector should be thinking ‘modular first’

In these days of climate concern, the UK government is spearheading the move towards zero emissions. Eco-friendly and sustainable construction solutions are crucial if the UK is to meet the net zero emission targets set for 2050, now enshrined in UK Law.

Construction is one of the key sectors that needs to shift to more sustainable models. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) cites construction as one of the seven dominant sectors responsible for substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Indeed, the Global Status Report 2017 deemed that building and construction are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world.

While current use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is still relatively low, there is an increasing acceptance of the importance of eco-friendly solutions and the need to embrace MMC. It’s incumbent on constructors and their customers to consider the environment in their projects. Forward-thinking companies are increasingly incorporating more sustainable measures in their designs, plans and processes. Far from restricting economic opportunity, modular buildings have the potential to be an exciting and expanding area of growth – as well as offering a host of benefits to end users and a more sustainable way to build.

We have published a free whitepaper: Modular Buildings & Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Why the public sector should be thinking ‘modular first’ which guides you through the many key benefits of considering MMC in your buildings projects, how it supports sustainability measures and guidance on what your next steps should be.

How CCS can help

The simple truth is that green buildings are good for people and good for the planet, and our Modular Building Solutions agreement consists of fully vetted suppliers who can work with you to achieve project success, no matter how basic or complex your requirements and can incorporate the eco features you demand.

As the UK’s largest procurement organisation, we are also in a prime position to help customers achieve best value – and the most appropriate solutions – in all aspects of building and construction. 

By working with us, you can gain access to the buying power of central government, which drives significant value for your organisation. 

Why not contact us to discuss your needs?

To find out more about our Modular Buildings Solutions agreement visit us here or contact us to discuss your requirements.

Download our free whitepaper: Modular Buildings & Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Why the public sector should be thinking ‘modular first’ today.

Self-service Print Marketplace launching this winter

The first ever public sector Print Marketplace will work just like those commonly used across the private sector, enabling you to order a range of printed materials, including business forms, brochures, prospectuses, flyers and posters online. 

Designed for, and in consultation with, the public sector, it will offer a compliant, flexible and simple way to purchase print, whilst saving time and money. 

You will be able to define your requirements – such as selecting paper size and quality – and upload artwork or request artwork services, before receiving quotes from suppliers across the country or choose from pre-loaded templates. You can then filter these quotes by your priorities such as price or locality.  Crucially, you will be able to complete your order online too. 

With access to a large selection of pre qualified printers, the marketplace will make sourcing printed materials feel less like procurement and more like online shopping.

Dave Duncan, Crown Commercial Service’s Head of Document Management and Logistics said:  

“Capable of providing real, instant quotes from multiple suppliers, Print Marketplace will be a genuinely market-leading solution. It will allow customers from the entire public sector to purchase quality print products and, in doing so, save time and money while meeting their social value obligations.”

CCS has partnered with YPO to develop Print Marketplace, with Allied Publicity Services (Manchester) Ltd appointed to manage the platform. 

Print Marketplace will go live later this winter. 

Be the first to benefit 

We’re planning webinars and system demos to show you how Print Marketplace works and the benefits it offers.

To register your interest in these events, or to simply be kept up-to-date on launch plans, email us with the subject ‘Print Marketplace’.

Agency mark-up and the impact on temporary worker pay

It’s important to pay attention to the agency mark-up rate when sourcing temporary and fixed term staff as it doesn’t just affect what you pay. It can also make a big difference to your worker’s pay.

What is mark-up?

Put simply, mark-up is the fee the agency charges you for finding a temporary or fixed term worker. It is an amount added on to worker pay and legislative costs to make up the total charge rate.

Legislative costs include pension and National Insurance payments, apprenticeship levy (if applicable) and holiday pay, all of which are a percentage of the worker’s pay.

Why does mark-up matter?

It’s important to know what mark-up rate your recruitment agency is charging so that you can be confident you are getting a competitive rate – not just for your organisation, but also for your workers because it impacts what they get paid too.

Workers typically register with several agencies and exclusivity is rare. Workers are likely to be attracted by the best pay rate, so by negotiating your agency mark-up, you are putting your organisation in a good place to attract the best workers.

Understanding the importance of mark-up will put you in a great position to negotiate with agencies. This is something you can – and definitely should – do. By negotiating on the mark-up rate you will benefit from:

  • lower charge rates = savings for your organisation
  • enhanced worker pay = increased opportunity to secure and retain workers
  • improved worker benefits = satisfied and committed workers

You might also find it helpful to read our article on how to negotiate agency rates with confidence. 

It’s also worth remembering that the mark-up rates under the CCS frameworks are maximum rates, so suppliers will expect you to negotiate.

Impact on worker pay

These examples show the impact the agency mark-up rate you pay can make on worker pay.

If you pay a daily charge rate of £200 and the agency mark-up is 38% this would breakdown as: 

  • agency fee £56 
  • legislative costs £42.19
  • worker pay £101.81

Through negotiation, agency mark-ups of 15% and below are achievable. With a daily charge rate of £190 this would breakdown as:

  • agency fee £24.70
  • legislative costs £48.41
  • worker pay £116.89

By negotiating the agency mark-up and daily rates you could pay £10 less per day and your worker would still receive £15.08 more per day.

We’re here to help

Our workforce team can help you get a great deal on all your temporary recruitment needs:

How to negotiate temporary staffing rates with confidence

You have every right to check you’re getting the best possible deal from your recruitment agency, and it’s something we recommend you do. If you were buying a new car you would shop around to find the best price, interest rate and terms and conditions for you. The same is true for the supply of temporary and fixed term staff, and these tips will help you negotiate temporary staffing rates with confidence.

You might feel that you don’t have the time to negotiate the best deal for urgent bookings. That’s why we recommend planning ahead and agreeing rates with agencies in advance. You won’t need to negotiate every time you require a temporary worker, as the agreed rates will be set until you next review them with your agency(ies). You will also achieve long-term cost savings and time management benefits, and know you are getting a good deal no matter how last minute a booking is. 

Preparation is the key to success

Know your numbers

Make sure you know your starting position:

  • how much do you spend on temporary and fixed term staff each year?
  • which agencies do you use?
  • what daily charge and mark-up rates do you currently pay?

You might find it useful to read our article on agency mark-up rates and the impact on worker pay. 

Are there other organisations you could partner with? By combining your spend with other organisations you will have a higher overall spend and greater negotiating power.

Determine your bargaining range

  • what’s the optimum daily charge and mark-up rates you would like to pay for the various roles you typically need to fill?
  • what’s the highest daily charge and mark-up rates you are willing to pay?

This will show you the range within which you should negotiate.

If you are not sure, speak to your peers and find out what they are paying, This will help you gauge what rates are reasonable.

Communication

  • arrange a meeting with each agency you use to discuss:
    • agency performance – have you received a satisfactory service from them?
    • spend – set out what your anticipated future spend is likely to be
    • challenges – do you need to reduce unproductive time by limiting the number of agencies you work with?
  • discussing these issues will help incentivise the agencies to retain your business rather than lose you to a competitor – and it often leads to more attractive rates being offered
  • work out a mark-up rate which is acceptable to you and the agency
  • if the agency is unable to meet your requirements do not be afraid to walk away
  • remember that this should not be a confrontational conversation: clarity and communication are key

It’s also worth remembering that, as the mark-up rates under the GCA frameworks are maximum rates. Suppliers will expect you to negotiate. You can direct award to a supplier under the Non Clinical Temporary and Fixed Term Staff framework and negotiate with them directly. However, we recommend that you run a further competition as the best way to negotiate with suppliers and ensure you get a great deal. 

Dispelling common myths

The benefits of negotiation are not worth my time and effort

It is not a waste of effort to save money (and time in the long run). It’s true that the initial process of getting a better deal needs an upfront investment of time, however, the result will be a fair price for every worker, no matter how last minute. Peace of mind and controlled costs are worth the time spent negotiating with an agency.

If I try to renegotiate with my agencies our good relationship will be affected

Negotiation is common practice in the recruitment market and can generate positive outcomes for all parties. It should not be a process that adversely affects professional relationships. Most agencies will respect your need to get a good deal, enabling you to spend your already strained budgets on other vital resources.

I have to sign the agency’s terms and conditions

By choosing a GCA framework, such as Non Clinical Temporary and Fixed Term Staff, agencies will use the GCA framework terms and conditions. These are written with your best interests, as the customer, in mind. They also give you have peace of mind that agencies are adhering to the relevant employment check standards.

My agencies have exclusivity over workers

It is rare for an agency to have exclusivity over a worker. Most workers actually sign up with several agencies, which creates competition in the market. If you are able to offer more competitive pay (through negotiation on agency mark-up), workers are more likely to be attracted to your vacancy.

I can’t avoid temp to perm fees

Agencies can charge transfer fees to protect their legitimate business interests via temp to perm fees. Agencies must, however, provide you with the option of an extended period of hire or a transfer fee. This is set out in the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2003. Temp to perm fees can be avoided with the Non Clinical Temporary and Fixed Term Staff framework, when a worker has been in post for 8 weeks or longer provided 4 weeks’ notice is given to the agency.

A higher charge rate means the worker gets higher pay

Not necessarily. If you are paying a higher mark-up, this could actually diminish the worker’s pay. If you pay a lower charge rate with a lower mark-up, the worker can still receive more than if you were paying a higher charge rate with a higher mark-up. Read our article on agency mark-up rates and the impact on worker pay to learn more.

I am not entitled to know what the mark-up rate is

You are entitled to know the mark-up rate you are being charged, subject to general data protection regulations. This information is not commercially sensitive when shared between the agency and their customer – which in this case is you. In fact, agencies on the Non Clinical Temporary and Fixed Term Staff framework are required to break this out for customers to ensure it is clear. 

We’re here to help

Find out more about how GCA can help you get a great deal on all your temporary recruitment needs:

Why procurement should be part of your transport project

In our experience, an area of technology which is complex and time consuming for buyers is transport technology.

We have commercial agreements with over 75 suppliers in the transport industry and strongly recommend engaging with them. Make procurement part of your project, and let us help you!

A spokesperson from Leeds City Council said:

Using Crown Commercial Service allowed the council to select an appropriate contractor to design, install, operate and maintain the Leeds Clean Air Zone. CCS provided prompt support throughout the process, and delivered a platform for the council to seek tenders from a number of suppliers experienced in [the transport technology] sector.

In addition to guidance and support from CCS, you can learn about what other towns and cities are doing and share best practice using the Intelligent Transport Society (ITS) (UK) interest groups. The groups cover topics such as local authority/urban, smart environment and public transport, plus many more.

An ITS (UK) Executive Member said:

The use of CCS frameworks helps reduce the time and resources taken to procure a service as there is no need to identify and select suppliers. Call-off agreements have already been prepared for you to use and access to a catalogue service allows for ad-hoc requirements to be met easily.  As an end user it enables the delivery of a service to be achieved quicker and more cost effectively, which is often a benefit to the public whom we serve, whilst maintaining a fair, open and transparent procurement process. It should be every local authority’s first port of call.

CCS are committed to ensuring you save time and money on buying transport technology, as well as  the other everyday goods and services you need. Work has begun on our new transport commercial agreement and we’ll seek views on our design in summer 2019. Please track our progress using our dedicated web page and take the opportunity to get involved!

For further information

To find out more about our new transport commercial agreement, you can:

Insurance and Related Services 3 – protecting your people and your assets

Securing the right insurance cover, at the right price, is crucial in helping the public sector to protect its people and assets. Our new Insurance and Related Services 3 (IS3) solution is designed to help you do just that. 

Building on the success of the previous iterations of the framework, we have widened its scope to provide access to a complete range of insurance and associated services, including liability, property & construction, travel, personal accident, motor, health and life products.

To ensure the solution remains flexible and easy to use, for the first time, we have split it into 2 commercial agreements: 

  • RM6020 – which has a Lot for insurance brokers (Lot 1)  and a Lot for claims handling suppliers (Lot 2)
  • RM6138 – a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for insurers

In designing IS3, we made sure it retained the elements that were essential to the success of the previous frameworks: facilitating low cost, OJEU compliant access to leading brokers and insurers. 

To ensure a cutting-edge solution, and following significant engagement with our customers, we have also added the following innovations:

  • Access to all classes of insurance, including health, life and staff benefits
  • Additional insurance suppliers can be added to RM6138 at any time to provide capacity, competition and flexibility
  • There are now 4 claims management companies on a separate lot
  • Direct award option for brokerage services

By securing your insurance and brokerage services from IS3, you can gain access to the buying power of central government, guaranteed to drive best value for your organisation

Prepare to save

We know that for many, obtaining the right insurance cover can be a fine balancing act. That’s why, to complement the launch of IS3, our category experts have developed a new whitepaper.

Prepare to save – how advance planning can achieve best value unpacks the processes and considerations around securing the right insurance, as well as offering tips to ensure you achieve best value for money. 

Download the whitepaper here. 

Next steps

Our category experts are available to provide advice on purchasing insurance. To speak to them about your requirements, please contact us. 

For further information on IS3, visit our framework page. 

Flexible Resource Pool – Staff Bank rates reduced

The framework is designed to help the NHS and other public sector organisations flexibly manage their workforce through staff bank services. Staff bank rates have been reduced following negotiation with suppliers.

Staff bank rates reduced

The NHS Workforce Alliance partnership has worked with suppliers to agree further framework efficiencies for the benefit of customers and suppliers. 

To support the increased use of staff banks in the NHS, the alliance has reduced the supplier management charge on this framework from 4.5% to 1% of supplier fees.

Suppliers have passed this reduction straight on to customers by reducing their maximum framework rates. All suppliers have reduced their rates and, in some instances, this has led to rate reductions of as much as 42% (based on typical bank usage).

NHS England and NHS Improvement approved

As well as highly competitive rates, the framework is the first (and currently only) staff bank agreement approved by NHS England and NHS Improvement. 

This is thanks to a commitment to ‘bank first’, supporting effective bank delivery for the NHS and providing robust framework standards and management. This includes requirements for framework suppliers to conduct employment checks in full compliance with the NHS Employers Check Standards. 

NHS Workforce Alliance support

With the support of the alliance team, customers with existing contracts are already seeing their staff bank rates reduced, in line with the framework reductions.

If you would like help from our team of experienced framework managers to ensure you get best value on your staff bank services, please get in touch. As well as advice on how to direct award and the further competition process, we offer an assisted procurement service.

The framework has recently been extended until 2 July 2023, so there is plenty of time to get a contract in place and benefit. 

To find out how the alliance can help you with staff bank services please email your local alliance partner:

Crown Commercial Service and IBM launch new MoU for cloud services

The MoU aims to remove barriers to the adoption of cloud based services within the UK public sector and drive innovation that will improve essential public services for UK citizens. It is valid for 3 years (from 22 May 2020) and allows eligible public sector organisations to obtain preferential commercial terms to IBM’s published list prices for cloud services. These discounts are available for any new cloud contracts and for the term of those contracts. 

Establishing new routes to market and supporting the digital ambitions of organisations across the entire public sector has been a strategic deliverable for CCS and this MoU marks a great milestone in delivering value and operational choice.

For further information please contact Christian Martin, IBM Public Cloud at Chris@uk.ibm.com. To speak to a member of our team, please complete this form.

Virtual interviews: top tips for success

While some office-based staff are returning to the workplace, many public sector organisations are continuing to work remotely, and social distancing measures mean this could remain the case for some time. In fact, for a lot of organisations, remote working could become the ‘new normal’ for some or all of their employees. This means that organisations will have to adapt not just to a new way of working, but also to recruiting and onboarding new employees remotely – and that includes virtual interviews. 

Some of the tips shared in this blog might seem pretty obvious, but it is all too often that the simplest of things that can trip you up. Make sure you are well prepared and a technical hitch won’t mean you lose out on a great candidate. Whether interviews are face-to-face or online, planning is the key to success.

Technology

  • what technology are you planning to use? 
    • make sure it is a platform that is easily and freely accessible to your candidates, for example, Skype, Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams
    • if you chose a platform that you don’t normally use in your day-to-day work make sure you (and all your interview panel members) can access it from your work computer – and make sure you know how to use it
  • consider a quick test call with candidates and the interview panel ahead of the actual interview to make sure there are no technical glitches:
    • this will help ensure that you are well prepared and can give a great first impression of your organisation
    • importantly, it will also help ensure that candidates feel confident and focus on giving their best at the interview – not worrying about the technology
  • have a backup plan, such as a conference call number, in case the technology fails you on the day – unfortunately, we all know that this can happen

Sifting candidates

  • a first stage of phone interviews can be a good way to help you create a shortlist if you have lots of candidates to consider – and then you can invite your shortlist to a more in-depth interview

Interview panel

  • have the same panel members for all your interviews if you can – you will build a better rapport between the panel and the interviews will flow better
  • have a pre-interview session with panel members to go over your planned interview format, questions and scoring:
    • it’s a good idea to agree in advance who will ask what questions and the roles each panel member will have

Before the virtual interview

  • decide if you want to record the interviews to help you review candidates: 
    • if you do, check your chosen technology platform can do that and that you know how to do it
    • tell your candidates in advance that you plan to record the interview so they don’t feel ambushed and self-conscious – and give them the opportunity to opt out 
  • agree in advance if you expect everyone to have their cameras on – it will certainly help you build a rapport and read their body language, so should be encouraged

We’re here to help

I hope you find these tips useful. For more advice and guidance on recruitment email the team or fill in our short online form and one of our commercial experts will get back to you. 

You can also explore our full range of workforce frameworks and the latest news on our new dedicated workforce web page.

Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20 published

The report highlights strong growth in spend through CCS’s agreements, with significant commercial benefits delivered for customers across the public sector, and improvements in customer satisfaction scores.

By making more commercial agreements available online, helping the public sector transform the way it works, and offering quality goods and services CCS customers have achieved commercial benefits worth more than £1 billion compared to current market comparators.

CCS helps schools, universities, hospitals, housing associations, charities and central government departments save time and money on buying everyday goods and services.

£18.1 billion of public sector spend was channelled through CCS agreements in 2019/20 – an increase of £2.4 billion on the previous year.

The accounts also show that £275 million more has been spent directly with SMEs through our deals year on year.

Customer satisfaction scores have also continued to rise, while we assisted customers with procurements worth a total annual contract value of £875 million

Simon Tse, CEO of CCS said:

“It has been another excellent year for us, ensuring that we get value for money across the entire public sector. We had very ambitious targets for the year, and I am delighted that we have generated commercial benefits for the public sector of over £1 billion. We could not have delivered as much as we have without the hard work, commitment and excellence of our people, and I am so proud of everything they have achieved.”

Tony van Kralingen, Chair of the CCS Board said:

“The year has demonstrated CCS’s importance in the role of ensuring the public sector purchase common goods and services at best value. This has been particularly evident in the last few weeks of the financial year. CCS has played a key part in the government’s response to the challenges of the coronavirus crisis. While the extent of the impact of the crisis will not be known for months, perhaps years, I am proud of the organisation’s determination to step up to the plate and be counted.”

Performance highlights for 2019/20 include:

  • £18.1 billion of public sector spend channelled through CCS commercial agreements
  • More than £1 billion of commercial benefits delivered
  • We assisted customers with procurements worth a total annual contract value of £875 million
  • Our employee engagement index, as measured by the Civil Service People Survey, has increased to 68% in 2019 – maintaining top quartile performance
  • Net Promoter Scores for customer satisfaction over the year reached +51 for Customer Service and +57 for Assisted Procurement

The Annual Report and Accounts are available to read now on GOV.UK.