Lofty ideas (a radically different approach to recruitment in order to improve procurement at Portsmouth City Council)

Article Type: Abstracts From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 18, Issue 6

Ellinor R.Supply Management (UK), 18 March 2010, Vol. 15 No. 6, Start page: 36, No. of pages: 3

Describes the radically different approach to recruitment taken by Portsmouth City Council, as a means of improving procurement, which involves prospective candidates undertaking a group-based morality game as part of a day-long recruitment process that covers literacy, numeracy and IT. Explains that this approach to new staff recruitment is one of many measures that have formed part of a five-year strategy to overhaul purchasing at the city council. Illustrates the relevance of this approach by explaining the general philosophy of the procurement function as part of a National Procurement Strategy. Concludes that the changes have enabled procurement to move into a more structured, strategic role which is especially valuable as the Council is heavily involved in private finance initiatives (PFIs) and public private partnerships (PPPs), ideal areas of procurement in terms of complexity and knowledge.ISSN: 1362-2021Reference: 39AJ500

Keywords: Recruitment, Procurement, Local government, Supply chain management, Supplier relations, United Kingdom