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

About us

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

Meet the team The NEPO team works closely with local authority colleagues across the North East and national stakeholders to deliver a diverse programme of work.

Michelle Armstrong

Procurement Officer

Lynn Atkinson

Business & Finance Officer

Caitlin Avery

Executive Assistant

Marie Bartup

Procurement Officer

Scott Bell

Data & Systems Officer

Laura Blanchard

Intelligence & Performance Specialist

Kadie Boon

Procurement Officer

Joanne Emery

Open Project Specialist

Claire Harrison

Category Specialist

Carly Ivers

Procurement Officer

Fiona Jamieson

Procurement Support Assistant

Laura Kyle

Category Specialist

Keith Lamb

Category Specialist

Sarah Marshall

Data & Systems Officer

Nick McDonald

Procurement Officer

Michael Murray

Category Specialist

Alia Nabi

Marketing Executive

Joanne Peacock

Procurement Manager

Marie Perriam

Category Specialist

Shaun Place

Business Manager

Jenny Robins

Communications Specialist

Nicola Shelley

Managing Director

Steven Sinclair

Procurement & Commercial Director

Adam Smith

Commercial Manager

Carl Telford

Category Specialist

Ged Underwood

Business & Finance Officer

Egle Vitkauskaite

Procurement Officer

Bethany Wake

Procurement Officer

Social Value The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires public sector commissioners to consider how they could improve the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of their local area through their procurement activities.

NEPO has embedded social value  across all procurement activity using the LGA National TOMs framework. Our Social Value Delivery Group  steers this work and ensures that best practice is  adopted and that our suppliers are well informed. 
NEPO has developed a Social Value Policy to help maximise every pound of public sector funds spent through our procurement solutions.  
£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.

Giving feedback to NEPO NEPO aims to provide an excellent service to all stakeholders. It is important for us to understand when we achieve this, and also when there is room for improvement.

If you would like to give us feedback about a service we have delivered please read our Complaints & Compliments Policy. 
You can also view contact information here.