Ayming, Efficio and EY shortlisted for CIPS Supply Management Awards

The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) have announced the shortlist for the 2017 Supply Management Awards, with three consulting groups making the cut. Ayming were nominated for Best Procurement Consultancy Project, EY feature in the International Procurement Project of the Year category and Efficio were put forward for both.

Respected as the benchmark for excellence in the industry, the CIPS Supply Management Awards are among the most prestigious signifiers of an organisation or individual’s prowess in the procurement and supply chain profession. The annual announcement of their shortlist recently marked out a diverse range of companies and public sector entities for special praise, including a number of figures from the consulting industry.

The global procurement industry, according to a report by professional service firm Deloitte, predominantly focuses on cost-cutting and talent maximisation, but despite the narrow terms under which the sector operates, competition continued to thrive in what, according to CIPS representatives, was a bumper year for entries in all fields.

Cath Hill, CIPS marketing director and one of the judges, said: “We had a high volume of entries this year and the quality was incredibly high. The judges were impressed by the clear difference procurement is making to organisations across the UK and beyond. Congratulations to all those organisations and individuals who made the shortlist. We look forward to celebrating with you at the awards night.”

The 16-strong roster of gongs up for grabs include a broad range any categories, with awards focused on start-ups, and even not-for-profits groups alongside those recognising more traditional businesses. Two categories feature nominations from the professional services industry, as Ayming, Efficio and EY all find themselves on the shortlist for this year’s ceremony.

Best Procurement Consultancy Project

The Best Procurement Consultancy Project award recognises a business that has supported another organisation's purchasing and supply activity, or procurement function, on a particular project through the provision of advice, consultation or training. The award’s criteria are focused on the benefits achieved for the client, and how the support provided went beyond the contract and delivered a lasting legacy.

This year, the category sees consultancies Efficio and Ayming go head to head for the title along with real estate company Stradia and Northamptonshire Homes. Global management consultant Ayming were nominated for their work with the world famous children’s hospital Great Ormond Street, in Camden, London.

Martin Hook, Managing Director at Ayming UK, said, “This is excellent recognition for both Ayming, and our Operations Performance team. Having last year received 5-star ratings from Capital Magazine for our Procurement and Cost Optimisation services, we are delighted to again be recognised for our successes in this area. The CIPS is a prestigious organisation, and I am delighted to see Ayming shortlisted in their UK awards this year."

London-based Efficio meanwhile, who were hired by BPL last year to build world class procurement function, made the shortlist for their role assisting the knowledge sharing network KNect 365. Efficio saved the group an annualised £5.8 million, while doubling returns on their investment, with the firm having worked to identify savings opportunities and build a best-in-class procurement function from scratch.

International Procurement Project

Further to that however, Efficio find themselves shortlisted for a second award, after the firm’s work with the government of Saudi Arabia saw them design procurement laws and processes aimed at the long-term economic development of Saudi companies. Following six months of extensive research, Efficio designed a five-year local content transformation programme based on its findings, with the Saudi regime hopeful the plan will provide a major boost to the country’s long-term economic development. For their troubles, the professional services company received a nomination for the International Procurement Project of the Year award.

Jens Pedersen, CEO of Efficio, described the group’s two CIPS nods as, “the benchmark for exceptional performance in the procurement and supply chain industry. To be shortlisted in two heavyweight categories is a significant achievement in itself and one of which we are extremely proud.”

Efficio go up against a long list of prestigious names from a variety of sectors for the top prize, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, the United Nations Office for Project Services and Big Four group EY. The multinational consulting giants, who boast an annual revenue of $29.6 billion, were also recently shortlisted for the New Zealand Procurement Excellence Awards earlier in the year.

The official ceremony to declare the winners will take place on 13 September at the esteemed Grosvenor house, where over 1000 procurement professionals will join with CIPS organisers to celebrate the work that has taken place in the supply management market over the last 12 months.