School of Management launches third sector procurement and commissioning course
►Procuring and Commissioning from the Third Sector 
►Improvement and Development Agency for local government
►National Programme for Third Sector commissioning .
The University of Bath School of Management is delighted to announce that it has been selected to launch a unique course exploring issues surrounding procuring and commissioning from the third sector.
The four-day course which has been designed with support of the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) is part of the National Programme for Third Sector commissioning.
Dr Gordon Murray, Programme Manager at the IDeA said:
“Bath has been making a significant contribution to improving public procurement for some years; they have helped shape current good practice. The National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning want to build on that foundation to ensure that public procurement and commissioning managers have access to the best training on how to involve the third sector in improving public service delivery.”
Entitled, ‘Procuring and Commissioning from the Third Sector’ (PC3) the course will explore the distinctive characteristics of the voluntary and community sector.
Mike Lewis, Professor of Supply Strategy at the School of Management and Director of Executive Development, said:
“As the voluntary and community sector makes an increasingly multi-faceted and broad ranging contribution to UK public service, a series of novel challenges and additional tasks arise for procurement and commissioning specialists. It is these supply strategy challenges that PC3 has been designed to address.”
The PC3 course comprises a highly interactive, taught module followed by an optional one-day workshop to reflect on applied lessons from the participants.
The course content has been designed to help participants create practical responses and involves integrative cases, guest speakers, lectures, exercises and simulations.
Although primarily aimed at procurement and commissioning specialists (in local government, fire and police services, health and social care, etc.) the course is open to anyone with a strategic or operational interest in its core concerns.
Bursaries are available from the IDeA. For further information on the course, including timings, locations, fees and the bursary options, please contact Merwyn Manson on 01225 383281 or execed@management.bath.ac.uk.
Notes to Editors
The Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) works for local government improvement so councils can serve people and places better. They enable councils to share good practice through the national Beacon Scheme and regional local government networks.
The IDeA also promotes the development of local government’s management and workforce. They advise councils on improving customer service and value for money. The IDeA is owned by the Local Government Association and belongs to local government.
The IDeA is managing the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning, on behalf of the Cabinet Office. The programme is a critical strand of ‘Partnership in public services: an action plan for third-sector involvement’. A portfolio of training has been developed with partners across the country to reflect the key messages of the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning. The training has been tailored to match the needs of particular commissioners.
For further information / press enquiries, contact:
Liz Alvey, Marketing Officer
School of Management
University of Bath
Claverton Down
Bath BA2 7AY
UK
Tel:+ 44 (0) 1225 383526
Email: pr@management.bath.ac.uk
General Notes For Editors:
The University of Bath School of Management has consistently achieved both top research and teaching ratings in the UK's Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) assessments. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), the School was rated 5th in the UK for management research.
We are one of a select number of international business schools accredited by EQUIS, the European Foundation for Management Development's quality inspectorate and the Bath MBA has been accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) since 1976. The School is consistently ranked among the top UK business schools by The Times, The Sunday Times, The Financial Times and The Guardian.
The centrality of research to teaching is an essential feature of all our programmes. The School offers a full range of programmes from undergraduate to postgraduate up to PhD level and post-experience programmes including the world-ranked Bath MBA. The School also provides tailored executive development programmes for middle and senior management.
The School of Management has a faculty of around 90 teaching and research staff, including visiting academics, with a support team of around 70 managerial and administrative staff. Research income averages £2 million per annum. There are approximately 2,100 students in total comprising some 200 MBA students, 460 Master’s students, 210 full- and part-time research students, and over 1100 undergraduates following BSc degrees. The School also runs joint undergraduate programmes with Departments in the Faculties of Engineering and Design, Science and Humanities and Social Sciences.
