In today's uncertain economic climate, councils are searching for opportunities to drive efficiencies and make savings without compromising the quality or accessibility of local services. At the same time the construction industry is under pressure to stay afloat.
Fortunately, an important tool has been forging a link between better construction and improved public services and particularly in today's economy, has proven to be mutually beneficial to councils and the construction industry.

Around the country, collaborative procurement, whereby councils work together to jointly purchase goods and services, is saving money, achieving more programme certainty, and lowering risk.

Formed in 2009, the National Improvement Efficiency Partnership (NIEP) for the Built Environment is playing a unique role in leading the ongoing adoption of local government best practice. Building on the successes to date of nine Improvement Efficiency
Partnerships (IEPs), the NIEP is working to shape the future of intelligent local government asset management and procurement of building and highway projects.

The following report provides evidence of the benefits to date of collaborative procurement and the potential of the NIEP to maximise future benefits.