About us

What we do Social value North East Economy How we work Governance Meet the Team

What we do... Established in 1976, the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) undertakes high-value procurement in major strategic areas of spend in conjunction with North East local authorities and a range of associate members.

WHERE WE WORK Our member authorities are listed below

We've formed a Social Value Delivery Group to help address the requirements of the Public Services (Social Value) Act, specifically to ensure that our procurement processes actively encourage suppliers to achieve improvements to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the region.

£2.68BN NEPO MEMBER AUTHORITIES SPEND
over £2.68bn per year with suppliers.

NORTH EAST ECONOMY

The North East economy is worth £50bn annually (Office for National Statistics, December 2016). The majority of businesses within the North East are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These smaller, locally-based businesses have a particularly important role to play in the growth and prosperity of the regional economy as they have a strong local multiplier effect, helping to ensure that public money spent in the region, stays in the region.

NEPO’s member authorities contribute significantly to the regional economy:

NEPO member authorities spend over £2.68bn per year with suppliers.
In 2017, 60% of total spend by our member authorities was with North East suppliers.
Of the 60% of spend with North East Suppliers, 65% was with Small to Medium Enterprises.

As the above statistics demonstrate, NEPO and its member authorities are committed to reinvesting public money back into the local economy. NEPO actively supports local authorities to spend locally by breaking contracts into lots and undertaking supply chain work where appropriate.

We are also committed to providing opportunities for smaller, locally-based suppliers to win public sector business, be part of wider supply chains and develop a more competitive regional supply base.

How we work

Our Vision Our Solutions Get Involved

View NEPO's Solutions...

GOVERNANCE Collaborative procurement is visible at a senior level across North East local government and is reported to both the Regional Leaders & Elected Mayors and the Chief Executives Group.

In addition, an Elected Member from each member authority sits on the Collaborative Procurement Sub-Committee, with the remit of providing strategic direction and advice.

Directors of Resources advise the Collaborative Procurement Sub-Committee on the delivery of the regional work programme, performance management and future opportunities.

Collaboration North East (Heads of Procurement from Member Authorities) advise the Directors of Resources on strategic procurement matters, create the regional work programme and identify new collaborative opportunities.

Our Stakeholder Engagement Group is made up of representatives from the business community and reports into the Collaborative Procurement Sub-Committee. The group focuses on maximising the economic and social benefits of our procurement practices and procedures.

NEPO uses a Hub & Spoke model which refers to whether a solution is led by the Hub (NEPO) or a Spoke (Member Authority). The model is underpinned by a Gateway Process which reviews projects at key points to achieve consistency and assure quality.