A leaked report on how to make central and local government more efficient has raised the stakes - and fears - for procurement. David Arminas reports
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Most of the material that makes a binding deal is, like an iceberg, below the surface. In the second part of our series, Dick Jennings explains what a contract should and shouldn't contain
The trials of all-postal ballots in England this month highlighted important issues for purchasers. Sam Fortescue asks how they can approach the next campaign
Find out who are your most profitable clients can help you be more efficient
A London council is willing to appoint a head of strategic procurement with no purchasing experience. David Arminas looks at whether it matters
Purchasers at Nissan may go on strike against plans to move from Sunderland to Bedfordshire. David Arminas examines the issues for both sides in the dispute
Q: How can I quantify the financial benefit of agreeing shorter payment terms with suppliers (or calculate the damage by extending them)? It would be useful to be able to do this quickly when negotiating pricing levels.
Tory desires to make government more efficient have brought purchasers to the fore, but risk making the profession a whipping boy, writes David Arminas
The rules on airline tickets make pan-European flights more expensive and travel policies less efficient, say buyers and agents. They blame the regulator, and the argument could end in court. Amon Cohen reports
The Office of Fair Trading is the latest body to test whether small firms get a fair deal with government contracts. David Arminas asks: will it find anything new?