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Central Buying Consortium

The Central Buying Consortium (CBC) is the largest local authority purchasing consortium in the UK. It has 17 local authority members, having grown from just six members when it was formed in 1991, and now represents most of the major authorities from the midlands to the south-east, outside London.

For further information on the CBC Conference and Exhibition, please visit www.cbcconference.co.uk.

Health Care Supply Association

The Health Care Supply Association is a membership organisation representing procurement practitioners within the UK health care sector. With over 1000 members and consisting mainly of senior health care procurement professionals, the Association promotes, maintains and seeks to continuously improve professional standards and training related to supplies and associated services within health care. The Health Care Supply Association is dedicated to promoting the role and importance of supplies staff in cost-efficient supply chain management and is affiliated with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).

For further information on the Health Care Supply Association Conference and Exhibition, please visit www.hcsaconference.org.uk.

London Contracts and Supplies Group

London Contracts and Supplies Group (LCSG) are a consortium whose membership is made up of all the London Boroughs and other buying organisation in London. In 1976 the Greater London Council (GLC), Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) and London Boroughs identified the need for a greater degree of co-ordination and joint action in purchasing and supply matters in Greater London.

Recognition of the collective expertise and resources of the London Boroughs, the GLC, and ILEA, and the desirability of increased participation in the development of policy led to the creation of the London Joint Supplies Board which in 1991 was renamed The London Contracts and Supplies Group (LCSG).

For further information on the LCSG Conference and Exhibition, please visit www.lcsgconference.co.uk.

Ministry of Defence

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is both a policy-making department of state – like any other central government department – and the highest level military headquarters in the UK, providing political control of all military operations. It controls resources for the Armed Forces of some £30 billion a year. Within and across the MOD, military and the civilian personnel work closely together to deliver Britain's defence.

For further information on the MOD Conference and Exhibition, please visit www.MODconference.co.uk.

Scotland Excel

Formally launched on 1 April 2008, Scotland Excel is a non-profit-making organisation which is funded by participating local authorities. Scotland Excel was created as one of the sectoral Centres of Expertise following recommendations from a government commissioned report to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement in Scotland. Its purpose is to serve local authorities and related organisations across Scotland with a comprehensive, professional and customer-focused procurement service. Through increased collaboration in order to increase economies of scale, local authorities will benefit not only in experiencing a more streamlined service where duplication of efforts are reduced and best practice is shared but also in achieving financial gains. This collaboration extends to its suppliers and end-users as well as local authorities with the aim of ensuring the service is one that reflects the needs of all those within the supply chain.

Scotland Excel’s inaugural Conference and Exhibition was held in November 2007, for further details, please visit: www.excelconference.co.uk.

Scottish Government

The devolved Government for Scotland is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural affairs and transport. It managed an annual budget of more than £30 billion in 2007-2008. The Government was known as the Scottish Executive when it was established in 1999 following the first elections to the Scottish Parliament. The current administration was formed after elections in May 2007. The Scottish Government is led by a First Minister who is nominated by the Parliament and in turn appoints the other Scottish Ministers who make up the Cabinet. Civil servants in Scotland are accountable to Scottish Ministers, who are themselves accountable to the Scottish Parliament.

For further details on the Scottish Government Conference and Exhibition, please visit: www.scottishppc.co.uk.

Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government

Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government (SOPO) engages in a range of activities to promote its strategic purchasing, contracting and supplies functions. Representing over 2900 members, SOPO provides area networks and forums and produces guidance on best practice. Its aim is to advise local authorities throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on all purchasing and supplies matters of national/general interest, and represent its members on other bodies to promote the society and its aims.

For further information on the SOPO Annual Conference and Exhibition, please visit www.localgovexpo.co.uk and for information on the SOPO Scotland Conference, please visit www.soposcotland.org.