The North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) has won gold at the National Social Value Awards 2022.
The awards showcase innovation and leadership in social value and NEPO was awarded the Best Public Sector Project.
NEPO’s entry celebrated the social value achievements of NEPO301 Electricity, a national procurement solution that allows UK public sector bodies to access low-carbon electricity. Delivered by sole supplier EDF Energy, NEPO301 Electricity has secured social value commitments worth over £70,000.
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NEPO carried out the collaborative procurement project, resulting in the award of a contract to EDF Energy to supply the Electricity Supply and Demand Framework Agreement, used by 23 public sector organisations and valued at approximately £220m.
Nicola Shelley, managing director at NEPO, said: “We are delighted to have been presented with this national award, especially given the outstanding competition that we faced. NEPO works closely with North East local authorities to ensure that social value is embedded across the breadth of our procurement activity.
“One of the main objectives of this procurement was to develop a relationship with a supplier that provides a sound basis for managing and reducing energy usage. Another was to deliver social value for the North East.
“Our strong partnership built with EDF Energy has resulted in positive and tangible outcomes, including a wide range of energy efficiency initiatives and supporting local skills and employment in the region.
Sunderland sofa and carpet specialist ScS has become the new sponsor for St Oswald’s Hospice’s Great North Run Team.
The furniture retailer is sponsoring the hospice’s 2022 team of runners, and has committed to support the charity for the next three years. Sponsoring the running vests for the hospice means more of the money raised at the Great North Run for St Oswald’s goes directly to hospice care instead of event costs.
With over 350 runners this year, St Oswald’s Hospice, based in Gosforth, Newcastle, is thrilled to be sporting the ScS logo on their running vests.
Lindsey Duncton, head of marketing said: “As a North East employer and business, with our heritage dating back more than 100 years in the region, we’re proud to be sponsoring St Oswald’s Great North Run team for the next three years, helping raise important awareness of the amazing work that happens at St Oswald’s Hospice every day.”
The Great North Run is a vital event in the hospice’s annual fundraising calendar, raising £160,000 for the charity in 2021.
Emily Corney, senior fundraiser at St Oswald’s Hospice added: “It’s great to see so many of their staff members getting involved, through running and volunteering on the day. We know this year is going to be special, especially since the much-loved event will return to back to its original route, finishing in South Shields. "
Tolent has started work on a new facility for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Cleethorpes. The new lifeboat station will replace the two existing facilities on Central Promenade providing a new two-storey building providing an integrated boat hall and workshop, shop, changing rooms and office facilities.
The new shoreside location will provide a slipway on the beach itself, allowing an immediate launch of lifeboats from the boat hall into the water. The design eliminates the need for RNLI volunteers to bring the lifeboat from across the road, which is currently the practice, saving crucial time during a crisis.
Following a competitive tender exercise, Tolent was appointed as the contractor to deliver the scheme. Gateshead based Tolent has a wealth of experience in the sector having completed similar works for the RNLI in Redcar as well as recently delivering the refurbishment and extension of a new office and hanger facility for the Great North Air Ambulance in Eaglescliffe.
Stuart Crofts, project manager of Tolent, said: “This is a really interesting project to be involved in with a number of unique challenges. Not only is the site situated on a busy promenade; works also need to be scheduled within a five-hour window where the beach is accessible between rapidly changing tides."
