We help educational institutions to buy products and services whilst making time and cost savings!
Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) provide purchasing frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems (DPS) and procurement consultancy services for schools, academies, colleges, universities and other educational organisations.
CPC frameworks/DPS
Our purchasing agreements make procurement quicker, easier and safer as the lengthy tender process has already been done for you in compliance with the UK Public Contracts Regulations. You can get quotes from the fully-vetted suppliers by using our online quote tools and many of our frameworks are recommended by the Department for Education.
CPC procurement consultancy
If you need help running a tender or require a managed procurement service try our expert education sector procurement consultancy. Our dedicated team (previously known as Tenet Education Services) provide onsite and offsite procurement services.
A charity which invests in the education sector
Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) is the trading name of Crescent Purchasing Limited and we are a not-for-profit organisation. CPC is here to support the education sector and our income is provided by CPC suppliers via a small percentage of the value of sales to Crescent Purchasing Consortium members. The income is used to sustain and expand our range of procurement frameworks whilst providing support to our education sector members.
CPC is a registered charity and each year our Board of Trustees review the level of reserves our charity has and any surpluses are reinvested into the education sector. We have designated £1.56 million for a range of projects in the education sector through our 'Giving Back' initiative which provides funding for grants for student events and activities, CPD accredited procurement training and so much more.
You can rely on CPC suppliers
Each of our 1100+ framework suppliers has been fully vetted and has been through a full CPC tender process to gain a place on our frameworks. If your business would like to be on a CPC procurement framework, you need to become a CPC supplier and go through a CPC framework tendering process.
Our people are here to help you
We offer specialist advice on spending practices and provide support to help our educational institution members get the best value for money.
The CPC team is made up of over 80 experienced and dedicated professionals. Our procurement experts can provide support and guidance to you.
General advice: Helpdesk Team
Technical queries about a framework: Contact the framework Contract Manager
Onsite or remote 1 to 1 procurement framework support: Regional Procurement Advisors
Procurement consultancy services (previously known has Tenet Education Services)
Crescent Services are also part of Crescent Purchasing Limited and they provide frameworks and procurement consultancy services for the wider public sector and beyond.
Collaboration
CPC works in collaboration with the Department for Education and United Kingdom University Purchasing Consortia (UKUPC).
Constitution
Crescent Purchasing Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed by its memorandum and articles of association. The registered charity number is 1130461 and the company number is 06774578.
Our history
CPC was formed
Our services proved to be extremely useful in the education sector and in 2009 CPC achieved charitable status.
We became a registered charity
Our services proved to be extremely useful in the education sector and in 2009 CPC achieved charitable status.
CPC acquired Tenet
Crescent Purchasing Ltd acquired procurement services provider company Tenet Education Services, providing an end to end procurement solution.
CPC brand harmonisation
Crescent Purchasing Consortium, Tenet Education Services and CPL Group all join together under the CPC brand, offering frameworks, procurement consultancy and support all in one place.