The Conference on University Purchasing (COUP), is being hosted in Canterbury by the University of Kent from 8-10 September 2015. As we are hosting the Conference, the seminars and exhibition are open to University of Kent staff free of charge.
COUP is held at a different institution every two years and will see almost 300 delegates attending from HEI’s across the UK and Ireland, with some from further afield.
The Conference will include over 40 seminars being held in seminar rooms and lecture theatres in Keynes College. The main Sports Hall and the two smaller sports halls are being used for a supplier exhibition where over 90 stands will be set up.
Seminars
Seminars take place in Keynes College on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th September, covering a wide range of subjects, not exclusively purchasing related. Full details of all seminars are available here. The purchasing specific seminars include:
• Understanding construction procurement;
• Contract drafting skills;
• Accessing and using framework agreements;
• Public Contract regulations 2015, legal changes;
• How to negotiate;
• Using KPI’s to manage suppliers; and
• Estates and Construction procurement.
Some of the non-purchasing highlights include a session on ‘Making Teams Work’ presented by Tim LeLean who many of you may know, others include:
• Positive communication skills;
• Influencing skills; and
• Unlocking your potential.
You can turn up for the seminars in any of the Lecture Theatres without booking, but if you are intending to go to one held in a seminar room, please contact Don Bowman as space may be limited.
Exhibition
The supplier exhibition has over 90 stands and will be held in the three Sports Halls in the Sports Centre. The entrance will be through the glass doors on the side of the Sports Centre, facing Stacey/Enterprise Hub buildings. The exhibition and the suppliers attending will be available to Kent staff during the following times:
Wednesday 9 September 11.30-12.30 and 14.00-16.00
Thursday 10 September 09.30-11.00 and 14.00-15.00
Many of the University suppliers will be attending, including:
• Fisher Scientific
• Hewlett Packard
• LM Information
• Misco
• Office Depot
• Phoenix
• RS Components
• SLS
• Softcat
• Stone
• UPP
• XMA
If you would like to know more, you can visit the website at www.coup.ac.uk or contact d.bowman@kent.ac.uk or purchasing@kent.ac.uk