HCSA Winter Conference 2023
The HCSA 2023 Winter Conference was held at the Manchester Central Convention Centre on 28th and 29th November. The event brought together procurement professionals from across the health service for two days of networking, learning and sessions from speakers including NHS England Chief Commercial Officer Jacqui Rock, the HCSA Women’s Network, and updates on upcoming changes in procurement law from Hempsons as well as the HCSA Annual General Meeting.
Jacqui Rock unveiled the NHS England Central Commercial Function (CCF) Strategic Framework for NHS Commercial, which has been developed in partnership with NHS commercial professionals and aligned to the Government Commercial Function. The framework features four key themes and aims to raise overall productivity and efficiency. There was also an update on future leaders and graduates focusing on the next generation of procurement and supply professionals.
A highlight of the event was motivational speaker Sarah Furness with 20 years of experience as an RAF helicopter pilot squadron leader, mentor and facilitator. She shared with attendees her Healthy Automatic Behaviours in Threatening Scenarios.
The glittering HCSA Awards ceremony gala dinner was held at the Hilton Hotel in Deansgate to recognise the great work of procurement teams and individuals across the healthcare sector, including members of our team who were shortlisted in the Procurement / Supply Chain Team of the Year category.
NOE CPC Managing Director and HCSA Chief Officer Keith Rowley said: “I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who attended the conference and gala dinner. It was great to see so many colleagues from across NHS procurement coming together to celebrate the great work of supply chain professionals. The NHS is continuing to face challenges and the procurement community is no exception and its important we take the opportunity to come together and learn from each other.”