CPC to return to AoC Finance Conference

Our dedicated Learning and Development Lead, Mark Pearson, will present a session on how to use the new Procurement Act, as CPC makes its return to the Association of Colleges Finance Conference in Loughborough on Wednesday 14th May.

This year's event will be sponsored by Sustainable Energy First, who were recently confirmed as the exclusive suppliers of our Utilities Supplies & Services framework, establishing a fresh and closer partnership between CPC and SE First in the process.

The AoC Finance Conference will offer attending stakeholders the chance to gain insight into relevant issues, from funding and finance to accounting and college management, with the event set to provide platforms to the Department for Education (DfE), the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and an array of United Kingdom college leaders, as well as the Association of Colleges itself.

As public procurement adjusts and adapts to the changes introduced by Procurement Act 2023, the AoC's Finance Conference presents one of the first major opportunities to assess the lay of the land with peers from across the wider college community.

With a chance to work through relevant shifts in policy and funding, May's gathering at the Holywell Park Conference Centre will also provide a useful forum for the discussion of college budgeting, leadership and staff management issues, plus more...

Among the morning's highlights will be a breakout session catered to staff who have only recently adopted their role in college finance, before Mark Pearson tackles the Procurement Act, from 1.55pm. The crux of this workshop will be Mark's overview of how to approach the regulations from an FE college-specific stance - and delegates can expect to learn about the following:

• New elements contained within Procurement Act 2023

• Notable changes from Public Contracts Regulations 2015

• Ways of getting the basics right for successful procurements

• What the 'schools exemption' means for FE college institutions

In addition, there will be time for a Q&A, with visitors also able to bring any questions related to the new Act to the CPC Stand.

Visitors to the AoC Finance Conference can find CPC's team of public procurement problem solvers between 9am and 4.30pm.

Elsewhere, the day's 3.35pm keynote speech comes courtesy of Andrew Thomas, Director of Funding at the Department for Education. Andrew will address the DfE's recent reorganisation to take control of finance and funding functions previously handled by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, as well as outlining future changes in the UK Government's pipeline.

With an exhibition of products and services, plus networking opportunities aplenty, on top of its 'breakout' sessions and embedded learning and development outcomes, the 2025 AoC Finance Conference may prove a worthwhile investment.

Visit the Association of Colleges Finance Conference website for the full programme of events, plus an online booking function, with more registration information for Wednesday 14th May available via email or by calling 02070 342 620.