Nigel Kletz is chief procurement officer for Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in Europe serving an area the size of three-to-four London boroughs combined.

In an interview with Supply Management, Kletz explained that Birmingham is unique in having its own cabinet member portfolio specifically dedicated to procurement. As a result, the unit is consistently under pressure to deliver results to benefit Birmingham’s 1.1 million citizens.

When asked how local authorities can be more innovation in the solutions they provide, Kletz indicated that outsourcing and joint ventures are important aspects. “Councils must become more commercial in their thinking,” he responded, “This is where procurement as commercial thinkers can lead.”

Speaking from his own experience, Kletz added that “any local authority looking to develop their social value agenda must be open-minded, engage with the right people and be prepared to adapt as it develops.”

Where smaller organisations are struggling to act in such a fashion, Kletz said that larger authorities like Birmingham’s must do all they can to help, offering the benefits of their experience and sharing best practice.

Read the full interview here.

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