The United Kingdom’s esteemed accolades for public procurement excellence celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this month as it once again acknowledged 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 event aims to recognise the accomplishments and successes of all individuals involved in delivering public sector services, be it from the public, private, or third sectors.
As the public sector procurement landscape and its associated supply chain continue to evolve, the UK National GO Awards remain a vital and influential benchmark of progress and development in a market worth £300 billion annually.
The 20th anniversary awards ceremony took place at voco St John’s Solihull on 1 June, with sponsorship provided by supply chain solutions company Wincanton. London Luton Airport emerged as the major winner of the night, following their earlier triumph in the Social Value Award (Other Organisations) category. Their impressive project, supporting the sustainable recovery of the airport, supply chain, and local community from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, earned them the coveted GO Excellence Award. A distinguished panel of leading UK procurement figures served as judges and were deeply impressed by their accomplishments.
In total, 16 different organisations and individuals were honored with awards across various categories encompassing social value, infrastructure projects, procurement delivery, digital services, net zero, and more.
The list of winning organisations included a diverse mix of local authorities, government departments and agencies, NHS organisations, universities, buying consortiums, and construction firms from across the UK. Each of them showcased outstanding 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, expressed his admiration, stating, “In a year when the standards of the UK National GO Awards were higher than ever, London Luton Airport’s success is all the more remarkable. They have demonstrated vision, boldness, and creativity in their procurement approach, 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 upheaval, COVID-19, inflation, and Brexit, the GO Awards have consistently served as a gauge of the health of this profession. Our current winners are achieving things that no one would have expected when these awards began, and it’s a tremendous credit to everyone who has been part of this journey.”
The GO Awards will make a comeback in the 2023/24 season to celebrate the achievements of the procurement sector in Scotland and Wales on 31 October and 8 November, respectively. Further details about these events and the entry process will be announced very soon.
