This report is usually started with comments about how well we have done with our income from marketing premiums and this is rightly so given this is the lifeblood of the company. This year however, the new funding to the Education sector by the Crescent Purchasing Group (CPL Group) must take precedence in this year’s report.

CPL Group has always sought to give back some of it’s profits to the sector usually by funding of procurement training or more recently, funding of Procurement Apprentices in the FE sector. This year however, we have moved this to a different level donating over £500k back to our members via various projects. The most notable was the provision of £259k of funding awards for student supportive projects to over 30 institutions. The stories coming back following this provision have been heart-warming and we have obviously made a difference in a number of student’s lives as well as to their institutions.

CPL Group have started something with this redistribution of profits back to our members and we intend to continue it. It is important for our members to realise that spending through either our frameworks or through the services offered by our partners Tenet will increase the amount of reserves available to donate back to our customers after year end.

Moving back to my usual opening remarks, it is important that I do state that we have made good surpluses in the last financial year as borne out by the financial data in this report and it is pleasing to note that this trend which started 19 years ago with the launch of CPC shows no sign of abating.

CPC is however, not just about making surpluses but is also about customer support, using the very best suppliers and providing quality goods and services at the best possible prices.

The fact that we are approaching 7000 members is testament to the fact that we are still achieving all of this.

This year has also seen the further integration of the Tenet team and services into a group offering which is now covering frameworks, training and consultancy. Tenet maintain their independence from CPC, but the two teams really do work well together at all levels.

The next year sees CPC celebrating its 20th birthday and also its 10th year anniversary of the purchase by the FE sector from the University of Salford. Our success has always been due to the three-cornered partnership of the customers, our marvellous suppliers and the CPC and Tenet team of staff. I’d like to close this year’s report by passing on my thanks to everybody who has contributed to our continued success and hope that we can continue to support the Education sector for many years to come.

The Contracting Team experienced a demanding year with the introduction of several new frameworks as well as the retendering of existing frameworks whilst not operating at full staffing capacity for the majority of the year. It is testament to the professionalism and commitment of the team that use of our frameworks continues to grow with an annual uplift in income exceeding 9% across the top 50 frameworks.

The Contracting Team also worked extensively with the Department for Education (DfE) as they look to recommend best value frameworks to the 24,000 schools and Academies under their remit. CPC as at July 2019 have 13 frameworks recommended with an additional 20 under consideration for potential signposting during 2019-2020. This has taken a considerable level of engagement with the DfE and is testament to the efficacy of the CPC contracting programme that so many of our frameworks are under consideration for recommendation by them. We look forward to the opportunities that this partnership will undoubtedly bring for the organisation.

CPL Group continue to benefit from the acquisition of Tenet Education Services Limited which has donated £835,186 back to the charity since May 2017. The 2018 figures include a 15-month trading period for Tenet Education Services.

CPL Group, in November 2018 hosted its own conference for members and suppliers under the trademark of Procur.Ed. This was hosted at Hopwood Hall College Middleton campus where one of CPL Group trustees is employed. Although footfall was not as high as expected due to numerous factors not least the weather, the quality of contacts made by suppliers was high. CPC intend to hold further conferences in the Midlands and Southern England to attract new members and stimulate increased spend through our frameworks.