IBET - What's New

From 1 April 2007 the Islington and Camden local procurement initiatives have been run as one project covering both boroughs. We have been moving toward a single brand for the programme which will avoid the confusion of two sets of promotional material, business cards etc. The new brand name 'iCAM Supply' is now used. However, for the next few months the IBET and KX Supply brands will continue to be used for borough specific projects. To read more about this new initiative please use the link on the right of this page.

News

New addition to the team

Monica Frega Poggioli has recently joined the iCAM Supply team. She previously worked on a sustainable procurement project based at Camden Council. As part of her role she will be assisting with the running of iCAM whilst working for the King's Cross Business Forum.

Contracts and Tenders 2007 - 2008

iCAM Supply has had its best year ever doubling the value of contracts won last year to nearly £11m. iCAM Supply obtained a total of 180 tender invitations for local companies during the year from which 54 contracts were won by 34 companies on 25 active sites. In the last three months, the following local companies have been awarded contracts:

 

Local Company:	Works Package:	Contractor:	Site:
Haydn Williams	Green roofing	InSpace Partnerships	Junction Road
Corraid	Brickwork	InSpace Partnerships	Junction Road
BSS Kings Cross	Plumbing materials	Spie Matthew-Hall	St Pancras Station
Fayers Plumbing supplies	Sanitaryware	Spie Matthew-Hall	St Pancras Station
Edmundsons Electrical Supplies	Electrical supplies	Spie Matthew-Hall	St Pancras Station
West Gate Building Services	Building works	Lovelock & Taylor	HFI Contract
D & R Security & Electrical	Electrical sub contract	Lovelock & Taylor	HFI Contract
K & M McLoughlin	Decorating	Mansells	122-128 Old Street
JM Piling	Piling	Higgins	Market Estate phase 2
K & M McLoughlin	Decorating	Mullaley	HFI Contract
Mindgrade	Metalworks	Mullaley	HFI Contract
Brewsters	Waste management	Mullaley	HFI Contract
Travis Perkins	General materials	Mullaley	HFI Contract
Lightside Electrical	Electrical works	Apollo Group	HFI Contract
Lightside Electrical	Electrical works	Apollo Group	Circle Anglia project
The Colour Centre	Decorating Supplies	Apollo Group	HFI Contract
J.Preedy & Sons	Shower Screens	Wallis	Outside Islington

New Sites

The first phase of the Kings Cross Central project has started. HBG is on-site, building the £150 million University of the Arts. So far iCAM has secured opportunities for seven local companies to tender between April and July. We have met with the Carillion project team, which is building the Sainsbury's head office, and who'll be procuring in earnest later this year. We've also met with Nuttalls, which is overseeing the infrastructure and civil engineering on the site.

Camden Council has just appointed Wates to carry out the £25 million refurbishment of Kentish Town Sports Centre. iCAM is examining their procurement schedule with them to identify opportunities.

Homes for Islington has allocated its contracts for 2008/09 to its six framework contractors, who have achieved £2.5 million of local procurement in the last six months. There is a variety of opportunities coming up this year including roofing, general building works, scaffolding, decorating, kitchen and bathroom fitting out and building materials.

Business Support

Mentoring Project

iCAM supply is piloting a business mentoring project in partnership with Business in the Community and several main contractors. Balfour Beatty and Balfour Kilpatrick, who are working on the Building Schools for the Future project, have taken on three mentees and will be meeting with them regularly over the next three months. Other mentors lined up include Carillion, HBG and Kier Group. The objective of the programme is to assist the business mentee to grow and adapt in the changing contracting market. Many of the mentee companies are capable and well motivated, but lack the range of business skills to realise their full potential. This is where mentors can help.

Environmental Workshop

With the assistance of the Raft consultancy, the iCAM Supply team held a very successful environmental policy workshop on Tuesday 9 April.

Feedback revealed that more than 80% found the event very useful, particularly the examples of best practice from other organisations. One participant commented “I gained the confidence and impetus to attempt to put together an environmental policy for my organisation”, and another “Well done iCAM, many thanks!”.

Given the success of the event and the high demand for specific environmental training, further sustainability workshops may follow shortly. If you missed the opportunity to attend this event and would be interested in receiving training on the environmental policy, we would like to hear from you. Please get in touch by emailing icam@islington.gov.uk

Survey of iCAM Members

The iCAM team is keen to improve the service provided to your business. A brief survey will be circulated to all members shortly. Your contribution of completing the questionnaire will help us find tender opportunities suited to your business.