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In October 2024, LHC Procurement Group successfully achieved full verification status under the Constructing Excellence’s ‘Gold Standard Verification Scheme’. They join an exclusive pool of UK framework providers who have achieved this new and highly desirable accreditation, which only a select few framework providers have managed to obtain.

The Gold Standard Verification Scheme was launched in November 2023 by Constructing Excellence, in collaboration with the Kings College London Centre of Construction Law & Dispute Resolution, with support from the UK Government’s Cabinet Office. The scheme has been designed to ensure government and the wider public sector adopt urgent recommendations for improved value, reduced risks and achievement of net zero obligations on all construction projects.

Achieving this verification requires the provider to display and evidence their compliance and adherence to the 24 Gold Standard recommendations within their processes and practices. It’s a way for the public sector to easily identify framework providers that meet best practices and embody the principles and policies set out in ‘The Construction Playbook’ and ‘Constructing the Gold Standard Review’.

A fully verified gold standard framework provider has robust framework strategies, procurement, contracts and management processes in place that deliver demonstrable value for money. Further demonstrating that a gold standard provider epitomises a collaborative, outcomes focussed and flexible approach with processes that drive improved value and integrate the work of clients, managers, suppliers and supply chain members.

Selecting a Gold Standard framework provider has the following benefits for a public sector organisation:

• Commitment to improved health, wellbeing and building safety processes and standards
• Emphasis on delivering, innovating and adopting new technologies to improve project outcomes and achieve net zero carbon and sustainability targets
• Supporting and widening SME availability and presence in all frameworks and working collaboratively with appointed companies to deliver improved social value, sustainability and asset performance.
• Actively encourage and offer assistance to promote early supplier involvement that can deliver positive outcomes improved value, desirable community benefits and reduced risk.

The governance of Gold Standard Verification resides with the Gold Standard Task Group formed of framework providers, public sector organisations, advisers, suppliers and government stakeholders.

This verification signifies LHC Procurement Group’s solid commitment to public sector organisations and suppliers upholding the highest possible standards for a framework provider. Demonstrating that the processes and practices conducted by LHC and its subsidiaries are of an exceptional standard to ensure that positive and sustainable outcomes are achieved, contracts are managed effectively, building safety is prioritised, innovation and technologies are adopted, improved supply chain management processes, SME opportunities are widely accessible, and emphasis is applied on meeting net zero and sustainability targets.

The LHC operation is continuously evolving for the benefit of public sector organisations and suppliers. It’s widely recognised that a public sector framework is a path to expert suppliers, compliant processes and savings for the public purse. However with this accreditation it goes beyond the basics and drives a systemic change that will have long term and sustainable benefits for public sector organisations and suppliers but the most important measure of impact is on communities residing within areas of change. The Gold Standard is essential to expedite progress, share learnings, encourage community wealth building and ultimately deliver better projects.

All Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) frameworks are developed by LHC Procurement Group taking into consideration the feedback obtained from pre-tender market engagement sessions as well as insight acquired from the SPA Committee to ensure that the frameworks that are developed meet the needs and future requirements of the Scottish market.

The engagement sessions that are conducted with the public sector and suppliers enable SPA to gauge the level of demand for the works and services proposed as well as the skillset required to deliver the works and services. Ensuring that the products that we develop are fit for purpose and provide us with certainty that there is a requirement for frameworks of this nature. Conducting thorough and extensive market research is a key component that establishes us as a ‘Gold Standard’ framework provider.

This ‘Gold Standard’ accreditation means public sector organisations using SPA can be assured that SPA and LHC Procurement Group work within the confines of the ‘Gold Standard’ throughout all practices and processes. It puts us in a prominent position to deliver the very best project outcomes through best practices that produce value for money, attract desirable community benefits, embed innovation and evolving technologies, improve collaboration and expedite community growth.