Kingstonfirst has implemented a very successful recycling scheme, which has grown over time and given a tangible return on levy payer’s investment. Over 200 businesses have saved on average 3.5 times their annual levy each year through the scheme.

Cost savings are of enormous benefit, but many businesses, particularly small or independent, do not have the time or knowledge to be able to achieve these savings themselves. Through a relatively small investment, this project will allow for expansion into new areas of joint procurement such as energy, telecoms and business support. This could pump prime huge savings for businesses, which coincides with the Mayor’s direction on helping business to realise hidden savings.

Focus areas include:
• Reducing businesses energy consumption and carbon production.
• Integration of technological innovations.
• Promotion of existing opportunities (broadband voucher scheme etc.)
• Identifying cost savings through joint purchasing.

What we'll deliver:

• Consultation with Kingstonfirst approx. 750 BID Levy Payers
• Development of Extended Joint Procurement Programme
• Identification of cost saving programmes
• Individual business meetings to assess cost saving opportunities and education of best practice
• Monthly output report to record take up and savings

Why it's a great idea:

This straight forward project is essential in the increasingly challenging high street environment, especially to support those smaller businesses that play a critical role in distinguishing the high street.

Other BIDs following similar initiatives have achieved £20,000 worth of savings for 20 members within 2 months and £400,000 worth of savings for 200 members over a 4 year period. Kingstonfirst is able to capitalise on its strength of bringing together large numbers of businesses, to collectively benefit from collaborative schemes.

Extension of joint procurement opportunities will not only save businesses money, but will also allow these businesses to reinvest these savings in other initiatives that may assist them in attracting more customers and implementing other cost saving initiatives.

There is scope to extend the joint procurement opportunities beyond the BID boundary to other nearby district centres, to allow more businesses to capitalise on the economies of scale.

Steps to get it done:

• A supplier will be appointed to work alongside Kingstonfirst to develop the scheme
• A tender process will take place to secure the best value supplier
• Individual business sessions to assist businesses in aligning procurement opportunities with their requirements.
• Kingstonfirst extensive BID3 consultation captured the areas for extension of joint procurement opportunities.
• Kingstonfirst will use these results to formulate a brief.