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Public-private partnerships (PPP) remain one of the best ways to ensure private-sector skills, innovation and efficiencies are married to the public-sector ethos to serve citizens, said Andrew Smith, chief secretary to the Treasury, speaking at a PPP conference in London.
The recent terrorist attacks on the US pose risks to globalisation and international sourcing, Martin White, supply chain director at Sainsbury’s warned. Strategic year-round sourcing is at the top of his agenda, he said, and his challenge lies in reminding people where supplies come from. “Many still think pineapples can grow in Kent,” he said.
Most small and medium-sized companies think joining together to form purchasing consortia is a good idea, according to new research, writes Mark Whitehead. But the study by Professor Michael Quayle, Bosch chair in purchasing and supply at the University of Glamorgan, also found that many firms feared working with competitors.
IBM has appointed a team to work with six business-to-business (B2B) and enterprise software leaders, including SAP and i2. It hopes the initiative will result in co-developed products and unite its own B2B strategies. www.ibm.com
Netengines, a workforce e-procurement technology firm, has secured second-round funding of £4 million for its Staffzone commerce platform. The company says the next development phase will be the automation of staffing. www.netengines.com
Traveldoo, a provider of second-generation electronic travel procurement solutions, is to offer Ariba’s Ready e-Procurement for business travel via its ShopSite. The Ariba system connects buyers and suppliers via the Ariba Commerce Services Network. www.traveldoo.com
Dave Nelson, Patricia Moody and Jonathan Stegner
Free Press, £30
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Low-cost steel imports from outside the EU are taking more of the UK market, according to latest figures from the UK Steel Association. Around 8.2 million tonnes will be imported this year, up by 6.5 per cent. All the increase is from non-EU countries. But consumption of steel is expected to be flat this year because of the downturn in manufacturing.
More than 3,000 of electrical distributor Newey & Eyre’s products have been added to PublicSource, the e-procurement channel arm of public-sector building materials provider Wolseley Centers. www.publicsource.co.uk