Public Sector Supply

Tim Iredale, BBC Political Editor interviews local Businesswoman, Diane Stow

In six days, the UK will face the biggest spending cuts it has seen in over 20 years. The cuts are expected to affect tens of thousands of jobs within the private sector in the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire area, which will have knock on effects to private sector organisations. BBC Look North interviewed local businesswoman Diane Stow, Managing Director – Countrywise Water Coolers Ltd yesterday on how the cuts will affect local businesses. Countrywise Water Coolers Ltd was established 20 years ago and has grown from a small business run from the family home to a growing business employing 15 members of staff and therefore supporting 15 families within the local area. Diane Stow, Managing Director explains “We are proud to say that Countrywise has successfully survived two recessions due to its large customer base spread across both the private and public sector but a few large contracts such as the East Riding County Council and Hull City Council will inevitably be affected by the budget cuts. As the government spending cuts loom, businesses look for ways to cut costs resulting in a change of habit. Countrywise has adapted to its changing customer needs as they look for ways to reduce costs. We now offer a mains fed cooler solution – plumbed directly into the water system, helping businesses to achieve their goals. Other businesses have not been so lucky and we have seen some small local businesses, who have been customers of ours for many years sadly disappear.” The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency Countrywise are one of only thirteen UK companies who have been awarded onto the national framework agreement for water coolers and dispensers. This offers public sector users an average saving of 12.5% with opportunities for further discounts surrounding volume, commitment and rebates. The national framework to supply water coolers was established to help the NHS and other government departments to achieve the same level of service quality, yet make cost savings accross the whole organisation. The framework lays down a set of requirements that all suppliers must be able to meet before they can tender. The agreement is to operate until May 2011 and is available for use by all public sector bodies across the UK and covers both the purchase and rental options for plumbed-in and bottled water coolers. The agreement is legally compliant and developed in line with EU public procurement regulations and offers the user not only flexibility of a procurement option across all products and services but also the benefits of agreed common standards providing quality assurance. Countrywise has been working with the public sector for many years and has used its local, hands-on experience to deliver water cooler solutions to local authorities and various other bodies. For more information click sales@countrywise.net or www.pasa.nhs.uk