The UK’s most prestigious awards celebrating excellence in public procurement marked its 20th anniversary earlier this month as it recognised and rewarded outstanding achievements and contributions in the sector at the UK National GO Awards 2022/23.
Organised by procurement experts BiP Solutions, the GO Awards were established to showcase organisations at the forefront of public procurement best practices across the UK. The awards aim to acknowledge the accomplishments and successes of individuals and entities involved in delivering public sector services, whether from the public, private, or third sectors.
As public sector procurement and its associated supply chain continue to evolve, the UK National GO Awards remain a crucial and influential benchmark for measuring progress and development in a marketplace worth £300 billion annually.
The 20th anniversary awards ceremony took place at voco St John’s Solihull on 1 June, with supply chain solutions company Wincanton as the evening’s sponsor. London Luton Airport emerged as the big winner of the night. After securing the Social Value Award (Other Organisations), they were further honored with the coveted GO Excellence Award. The airport impressed a judging panel comprised of leading UK procurement figures with its project supporting the sustainable recovery of the airport, its supply chain, and the local community from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In total, 16 different organisations and individuals were presented with trophies, winning awards in various categories such as social value, infrastructure projects, procurement delivery, digital services, and net zero initiatives.
The roster of winning organisations featured a diverse mix of local authorities, government departments and agencies, NHS organisations, universities, buying consortiums, and construction firms from across the UK. All of them showcased exceptional contributions in the delivery of public services.
Grahame Steed, Chair of the GO Awards Judging Panel and Director of Public Policy and Research at BiP Solutions, commented, “This year, the standards of the UK National GO Awards reached new heights, making London Luton Airport’s success even more remarkable. Their procurement approach demonstrated vision, boldness, and creativity, making their recognition well-deserved. They have set a new standard for others to follow, so congratulations to everyone involved.”
“Over the past 20 years, amidst recessions, political upheavals, COVID-19, inflation, and Brexit, the GO Awards have consistently served as a measure of the health of this profession. Our current winners are achieving things that nobody would have anticipated when these awards began, and it’s a tremendous credit to everyone who has been part of this journey.”
The GO Awards will return in the 2023/24 season to acknowledge the successes of the procurement sector in Scotland and Wales on 31 October and 8 November respectively. More information about these events and the entry process will be announced soon.
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