Simon Terry CEO at 4C Associates
Westminster City Council is partnering with International management and procurement consultancy, 4C Associates, to launch Symbiance, the first company of its kind dedicated to helping local and central Government, and public sector organisations make significant financial benefits.
Over the last three years, Westminster City Council’s procurement team has contributed year-on-year savings across the Council, of more than £120m. As a result, the council already has the lowest band D Council Tax of any local authority and is 45% lower than the inner London average. The Westminster team now wants other authorities that face the daily pressures of reduced funding, to benefit from their success.
By combining Westminster’s know-how in public sector spend with 4C Associate’s consultancy expertise in procurement and managed services, including 4C’s work within the private and public sectors, Symbiance will deliver a range of cost saving services such as: ‘Cost Reduction;’ which includes reviewing spend across the entire organisation; ‘Target Operating Model’ which assesses the efficiency of how the organisation is structured and functioning; ‘Process & Technology,’ to identify any inefficient systems and processes; and ‘Managed Services.’ The consultancy’s team of specialists will drive value by assessing cost efficiency throughout the entire organisation from the supplier contracts, to the operating model, right down to the spend item of goods and services used.
Mark Ellis, Partner at 4C Associates, said, “UK public sector services are constantly feeling the financial squeeze caused by a rise in demand for services and cuts in funding. Symbiance will help to overcome these economic challenges. 4C’s consulting capabilities, Westminster’s deep understanding of local government and both organisations’ demonstrated ability to deliver value, brings a unique combination of expertise and experience that is already proving to be of great interest to public sector organisations, from local and central Government to wider public services such as housing associations, health authorities and educational establishments.”
Simon Terry CEO at 4C Associates, told Government and Public Sector Journal: “Symbiance will help public sector organisations address their increasingly difficult challenge to improve, or at least maintain, services while they simultaneously reduce costs. Symbiance combines Westminster City Council’s outstanding ability to deliver real value in local government with 4C’s expertise in transforming private and public sector operations and in driving value through better efficiencies and lower costs. The innovation we have shown in creating Symbiance reflects the approach we have and will take in helping our stakeholders achieve their goals.
“Symbiance will work with the Chief executives, CFOs and CPO/Heads of Procurement of public sector organisation to help them deliver value. We offer consultancy services to improve performance through transforming processes, organisations, capabilities and better use of technology, we offer targeted cost reduction programmes to address budget challenges and we offer managed services to provide best-in-class capabilities for the long term.
“Symbiance will help public sector organisations deliver short term savings, sustainable long term value and transform their operations to create an internal capability.”
Anthony Oliver, Chief Procurement Officer at Westminster City Council
Anthony Oliver, Chief Procurement Officer at Westminster City Council, told GPSJ today: “Over the past three years Westminster City Council has delivered budget savings over £100m. This has been necessary to counteract the significant financial challenges of reduced funding from central government and chronic cost pressures within services. The Council has strengthened its strategic commissioning and procurement capabilities. Through our transformation Westminster has exemplified the delivery of Better for Less, driving innovation and sustainability though its procurement which it now can leverage for other public sector organisations. Symbiance brings together Westminster, the best of local government and 4C’s expertise in delivering cost reduction and organisational efficiency.”
“Westminster City Council’s Procurement Services team are looking to leverage its significant success in the Council to drive value, reduce cost and work with its customers to innovate services through its joint venture with 4C Associates, supporting other public sector organisations facing similar challenges,” he added.
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