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Antarctic shipping deal breaks new ice for PFI
Government research body the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has signed a £31 million leasing contract in what is thought to be the first UK private finance initiative (PFI) shipping deal.

BAS signed the 15-year PFI contract with Norwegian Rieber Shipping to lease the 14-year-old icebreaking ship Polar Queen.
Safety vetting is central to new OGC guidelines
Stringent vetting of public-sector construction suppliers’ safety records is outlined in guidelines from the Office of Government Commerce (OGC).
Gas giant’s buyers take prize as Kelly’s heroes
BOC Gases has won top prize in the first Kelly’s Award for Excellence in Purchasing and Supply. The company topped the petrochemicals category and was named overall winner by the BBC’s John Humphrys at a black tie dinner at London’s Grosvenor House last week.
Knowledge Management in the Automotive Industry
I enjoy reading these reports and this one I enjoyed more than most - not least because the author Paul Tucker declares early in the study that “knowledge management is not just for the IT department” and “IT will have a vital secondary role to play, but the primary enabler is the creation of a corporate culture that understands the importance and techniques of knowledge development”.
Put the passion back into buying, urges Cammish
Purchasers must “put the passion back into procurement” to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the economic downturn, Robin Cammish, chief executive of the QP Group consultancy, told the CIPS conference.
Hogg Robinson to overhaul travel buying section
Corporate travel consultancy Hogg Robinson is reorganising its procurement department, including adding more responsibilities for overseas operations, according to the company’s new director of procurement.
Troubled US economy casts shadow over UK growth
Purchasing managers fear that the troubled US economy has led to the weakest growth rate in UK private-sector services in two years, according to the latest CIPS report.
Investigation bill poses threat to partnerships
Partnering arrangements between buyers and suppliers could be under threat if the government’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Bill becomes law, industry experts have warned.
Firms ‘must share data’ with logistics partners
Successful partnering with a logistics provider requires careful analysis of its capabilities and acceptance of the need to share data, an academic has warned.
BOC restarts its global talks as takeover fails
Industrial gases group BOC will push ahead with the global supply deals it had put on hold while regulatory authorities scrutinised a £7.4 billion takeover bid for the company.
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