Q&A 01732 759725 29 Q: When you started out in procurement, what problems was the public sector experiencing? A: Before I set up Black Capital Group, I worked for a principal contractor within the built environment sector. During this time, I worked across several different public sector procurement vehicles – some good, some bad and some, quite frankly, ugly. I took the decision to build a procurement framework that encapsulated some of the good elements from current frameworks and cut out the poor practices that were being implemented across the market. This led to the formation of the first company of the Black Capital Group, Procure Partnerships Framework, which to date has procured over £1bn in projects for our public sector clients. Q: What are some of the key changes you’ve seen over the last decade? A: While client expectations were high when I started out in procurement, they’ve grown considerably since then, especially in light of recent economic factors such as high inflation and decreasing project budgets. Now, more than ever, the public sector wants to know it’s getting the best value from its contractors and there’s a much greater emphasis on creating long-term partnerships and focusing on the whole lifecycle cost of projects and investment. Compliance is king, and public sector bodies need to ensure not only that contractors and Q&A consultants are procured in line with Public Contractor Regulations but also that they – and their supply chains – continue to meet stringent common assessment standard requirements. Q: What is Compliance Chain and how does the technology work? A: Compliance Chain is one of four companies that make up Black Capital. Its focus is on providing software solutions that help principal contractors and professional services consultants better manage their projects and supply chains. Through our platform solutions, we enable them to carry out a wide range of functions, from searching and filtering verified suppliers to receiving transparent end-to-end reporting, setting and locking social value targets, and tracking project carbon outputs. The purpose is to make the process of ensuring compliance as seamless as possible, with all responsibilities manageable from a single solution. Q: Creating social value is very important to you. How does tech support this goal? A: A construction project cannot be truly successful unless it creates social value for the community in which it’s delivered, which is why I decided to set up Advance Social Value as one of the four entities under the Black Capital Group umbrella. Through this, we provide specialised social value support to the built environment sector, assisting professional services consultants and principal contractor partners to deliver demonstrable project social value. Technology sits at the heart of our social value solutions, doing everything from capturing data to incorporating social value into contracts, and helping clients to evaluate their progress with the support of Compliance Chain. With so much to consider, having a dedicated technological solution that helps organisations to stay on top of all their social value responsibilities is invaluable, and enables contractors to stand out from their competitors. Q: How do you see procurement technology evolving in the future? A: The Procurement Act 2023, which is expected to come into force later this year, gives a good indication of where the procurement industry – and procurement technology – is headed. This new legislation aims to create a simpler and more flexible commercial system that better meets the country’s needs, while remaining compliant with international obligations. In addition, it will open up public procurement to new entrants, such as small businesses and social enterprises, so that they can compete for and win more public contracts. The Act will take tougher action on underperforming suppliers, excluding suppliers that pose unacceptable risks, and will embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle so that the spending of taxpayers’ money can be properly scrutinised. While many procurement frameworks will have to evolve to reflect these changes, I’m proud to say that the Procure Partnerships Framework is capable of delivering these benefits and much more besides. Black Capital is perfectly positioned to help principal contractors to navigate the procurement challenges that lie ahead, and to shape a more sustainable and prosperous built environment for decades to come. https://blackcapitalgroup.co.uk With Robbie Blackhurst, founder and director of Black Capital Group Robbie Blackhurst Black Capital Group is made up of four sister companies specialising in the built environment sector: Compliance Chain, which gives principal contractors and professional services consultants a single platform for supply chain management, project management and social value management; Strategic Resourcing, which provides a digital platform for recruitment including access to a network of construction specialist recruitment agencies; Procure Partnerships Framework, which helps public sector organisations appoint professional services consultants and principal contractor partners and successfully deliver end-to-end projects through robust procurement methods; and Advance Social Value, which provides specialised social value support to the built environment sector. magazine
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