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Industry regulators say gas and electricity wholesale prices set by generators could drop for suppliers when new trading arrangements are introduced later this year.

According to Ofgas and Offer, the restructured markets will include a screen-based trading system that will sell gas and electrity on the day.

Have your cake and eat it

In the network economy, partnerships can offer benefits for buyers and suppliers alike, argues John Cockaday

The Learning Organization

Bob Garratt HarperCollins, £14.99

Government training boost

The Office of Government Commerce is offering 300 assisted places for purchasers on professional qualification courses as part of its strategy to boost government buying and meet government targets.

Energy auction for Europe

More than 300,000 European companies are promised savings of up to £1 million on their energy bills through a new online auction site. The site (www.buyenergyhere.com) will be available across Europe by the end of the year.

Bidding for best practice

The principles of purchasing should not be forgotten when entering electronic auctions, warns Roy Ayliffe

Dell cuts purchasing jobs

Computer company Dell has axed its European non-production purchasing department as part of a restructuring exercise. Marina Pedler, Dell’s head of European purchasing, and Simon Jones, its UK purchasing manager, have been laid off as part of the reorganisation, which also saw 100 jobs lost in other departments in Europe.

PUK: questions unanswered

There are still uncertainties surrounding the new body for public finance initiative deals, warns Charles Cox

Phone complaints revealed

Telecommunications regulator Oftel has announced plans to publish information about complaints from users of telecom companies. The data will include the issues and companies that are the subject of most complaints from users.

Agents aid reconstruction

Finance, trade and procurement facilitator Crown Agents has opened an office in Tirana, in order to handle the Japanese government’s grant aid of 0.8 billion yen, equivalent to £4.5 million, to Albania.