New NHS Energy Managers Forum to tackle energy supply
Panel will tackle the challenges of energy demand management and cost control
Crown Commercial Service (CSS) formerly known as the Government Procurement Service (GPS), and NHS London Procurement Partnership (LPP) have taken the initiative to reintroduce the Energy Managers Forum for the NHS in London and the surrounding regions, to tackle the challenges of energy demand management and cost control.
The inaugural meeting took place in December and was attended by energy managers representing most of the secondary care providers in the area.
Each forum - plans are to hold one three times a year - will be hosted by different CCS suppliers in rotation – EDF Energy volunteered its central London offices as the venue for December’s meeting. EDF is the supplier for half hourly electricity on the current CCS Framework Agreement for the provision of electricity supply, ancillary services and additional goods, works and services (RM864) .
LPP’s senior category manager in the estates and facilities team, Ed James, said: “Energy is a notoriously difficult category to influence, with prices currently heading in one direction. The purpose of the forum is to encourage the sharing of best practice and review the mutual support we can provide to reduce energy consumption as individual organisations and collaboratively.”
Claire Gibney, CCS’s commercial delivery manager, added: “Managers and their staff involved in energy management, sustainability and procurement get regular communications from CCS, but also benefit greatly from meeting CCS and suppliers face to face. The Energy Managers Forum gives the NHS community the opportunity to do that, and to keep abreast of energy market developments. It also provides support and practical advice on the best ways of using the CCS framework to meet the challenges of energy demand management and cost control.”
The December meeting included an overview of the existing CCS framework and benchmarking processes. EDF Energy, as host, also presented information and background on the sustainability support it is able to provide.
