**London**: Octavius Infrastructure begins 2025 with significant success, winning the National Highways Gold Standard Procurement award and multiple contracts. The award reflects excellent procurement practices and the company’s commitment to evolving supply chain management strategies, emphasising collaboration and value creation in procurement processes.
Octavius Infrastructure has commenced 2025 with notable achievements, securing the National Highways Gold Standard Procurement award shortly after winning multiple contracts on significant frameworks including the EHA 4 Framework and the NEPO Framework. The announcement regarding the award comes as part of the company’s commitment to enhancing its procurement processes and supply chain management.
The National Highways Gold Standard is designed to support ongoing maturity development within the supply chain, aligning it strategically with National Highways’ objectives. This award is considered prestigious, as it stems from a detailed, evidence-based assessment process conducted across ten key areas, which encompass 28 distinct sub-criteria. These areas include category management, procurement strategies, value creation—which integrates sustainability and social value—along with commercial management. Suppliers are required to demonstrate best practices in real-time operational settings to achieve Gold status.
Gavin Pritchard, Managing Director at Octavius Infrastructure Highways, highlighted the dedication and collaborative effort of the team, stating, “We have been on a collaborative 3-year journey of continual improvement to attain top marks in the Gold Standard Assessment and receive this award. The 100% achievement across the 28 sub-criteria is recognition of the fantastic commitment of our people across the business, to operate with the rigor and industry leading procurement activity that National Highways rightly demand.” His comments reflect the pride felt within the company, as they become one of the few entities recognized for excellence in procurement within the sector.
In a broader context, cost management remains a focal point for businesses across various industries. Simon Thompson, Vice President for Northern Europe at JAGGAER, remarked on the trend of companies developing improvement plans to address operational expenses. The challenge is to drive value through supplier partnerships while optimising procurement strategies. A significant shift in perspective has occurred, transforming procurement from a cost centre into a value creation function capable of long-term benefits.
Organisations are moving away from traditional cost-cutting strategies that often prioritise short-term savings. Such approaches can lead to compromised quality and potential reputational damage over time. Instead, fostering collaborative relationships within the supply chain presents a dual opportunity: it not only aids in cost reduction but also enhances overall supplier engagement. By establishing strategic partnerships, businesses can promote sustainability, invest in innovation, and improve customer satisfaction.
Central to this shift are collaborative procurement strategies aimed at building trust and transparency between suppliers and buyers. Effective management of supply chains now includes comprehensive communication and sharing of objectives, which optimises production processes and reduces operational costs through efficient resource allocation. Real-time procurement platforms are also instrumental in enhancing visibility, allowing businesses to manage demand, prevent overproduction, and synchronise inventory needs, thereby ultimately lowering unnecessary expenses.
The implementation of Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory systems has also become prevalent, especially within industries handling perishable goods or materials needing strict temperature control, such as the pharmaceutical sector. This system reduces waste and boosts efficiency by ensuring products are ordered and delivered only as necessary.
Moreover, regular supplier evaluations, by employing scorecards, provide a means to identify enhancement opportunities and deepen collaborations. This structured approach allows for transparent negotiations and discussions aimed at addressing inefficiencies or exploring alternative supply routes. Centralised platforms enable businesses to automate processes and utilise advanced analytics, leading to enriched decision-making capabilities and mitigated risks.
Overall, procurement is evolving from merely controlling costs to driving value creation. The collaboration between suppliers is gaining prominence as a strategic approach to securing sustainable savings and general operational improvements. Central to success in this domain is a focus on trust, transparency, and a comprehensive strategy that balances cost-effectiveness with quality, sustainability, and risk management across the supply chain.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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