Time for a change
February 1st 2008

Award winning Scottish leisure facility, 'The Time Capsule' is looking forward to a healthy financial year (to the tune of savings of £130, 000) as it reaps the rewards of adopting a new procurement strategy

In 2003 the Time Capsule was awarded Scottish Charitable Status and and over the past three years it has achieved a number of national awards for its business and environmental performances.

With the facility incorporating: an Ice Rink, Dry Sports Facilities, a Fitness Suite and a leisure pool and swimming pool, its high energy demands coupled with its Charitable Status, meant volatility within the energy market was of great concern.

Consequently it commissioned STC in March 2007 to review its procurement strategy and analyse the market for potential savings.

Since 1997 the Time Capsule had procured its energy through a large buying consortium whose combined annual spend exceeded £50m. After reviewing that strategy it was found that The Time Capsule did not benefit from the complexities of consortium tendering.This was because the tender received few bids and all sites were given a global price so The Time Capsule site was potentially subsidising smaller supplies within the group.

STC designed a new procurement strategy and used market intelligence to place The Time Capsule with most advantageous suppliers.

The tender returns for both gas and electricity were site specific and significantly advantageous when compared to its current consortium offer.Key achievements included: Tendered and registered contracts within two weeks STC's offer produced total savings of £130,000 p/a against the consortium offer Negotiated a 2 year 100% green electricity contract with 27% annual savings Negotiated a 2 year gas contract with 33% annual savings STC has procured energy for some of the UK's largest consumers and our expertise dates back to the deregulation of the Megawatt market in 1990.

STC offer a full and part managed procurement services for clients seeking fixed, flexible or energy only contracts.

STC' says its success is derived from taking a holistic viewpoint on all problems relating to utility procurement, bill validation,M&T, software systems, supply metering and strategic carbon management.