The purpose of our Commercial Strategy is to ensure that:
- the commercial approach to commissioning and procurement takes place in accordance with our strategic aims
- we deliver best value to residents
- it supports the focus of Dorset Council's Plan to make Dorset a great place to live, work and visit
Our Commercial Strategy identifies and describes our commercial principles and key objectives to deliver our ambition. It applies to all our commissioning and procurement activity.
Being more commercially minded
The strategy includes our Commercialisation Transformation Programme; “Being more commercially minded”, which are separate, but connected, workstreams:
- behaving in a more business-like way
- adopting some of the positive culture and behaviours that are associated with commercial organisations
- being business-friendly
- promoting local growth and prosperity
- commissioning as One Council
- identifying needs, developing service models and the market to meet those needs in the most cost-effective way, as One Council
- making money
- doing something that generates profit
Social Value
Through commissioning and procurement, we consider the requirements of the Social Value Act 2012 to enable and support the delivery of economic, social, and environmental benefits. We aim to use Social Value principles across all commissioned services, including those delivered directly, and of all contract values.
We seek measurable, verifiable social value outcomes across all commissioning and procurement of services that:
- are relevant to what is proposed to be commissioned and proportionate to the value and its importance
- can legitimately be included in the contract specification
- will contribute to the Council’s Corporate Plan
National Procurement Policy Statement
This Commercial Strategy compliments and supports the National Procurement Policy Statement