How We Help

Procurement and contract management training

Best Value Contracts That Last

A strategic, long term approach

Best Value Contracts That Last

We are known for our robust, effective and compliant tender management. But as procurement specialists, we offer more. Much more.

Our strategic ‘Wheel of Services’

Schools’ procurement requirements follow a lifecycle and we have strategically developed our ‘Wheel of Services’ to match this. We support all five stages from start to finish, not just the tender itself. This means our schools get stronger procurement results and consistent support across the whole journey.

Flexible service packages

Many schools instruct us when they have an immediate tender need. Schools that want to stay ahead work with us across our wider procurement services. We deliver bespoke, blended service packages to fit exactly what you need.

Did you know – 86% of our schools who benefit from our managed tender services choose to keep working with us!

Meeting the new Procurement Act requirements

The Procurement Act 2023 is complex, and many schools and trusts are struggling to turn the guidance into clear, practical steps. RIVA can bring simplicity to the complexities of the Act at every stage of procurement, allowing our clients to stay compliant without the stress.

Covering many different support services

We specialise in supporting the more complex contracts such as catering and cleaning and we’re experienced in many other service areas, too. If your service isn’t listed below, please get in touch as we can accommodate any request.

Catering

Cleaning

Grounds Maintenance

Reprographics

Uniforms

Waste Management

Lettings

Health and Safety

Legal

Audit and Finance

Transport

Procurement stategy

Turning complexity into opportunity

Procurement strategy is where it all begins. We help you:

develop and embed a clear procurement strategy
define practical steps to stay compliant with The Procurement Act 2023
create real competitive advantage via a strategic approach
align your services with your ethos, values and strategy.

A clear vision and a consistent approach will ensure compliant procurement activity and support contracts that are strategically procured, not just bought in to.

Procurement Pipelines mean planning ahead. We help you:

build your procurement pipeline
identify contract consolidation opportunities across trusts
plan resource needs for future procurement activity
spot gaps in resource, capability and training

Our projects ensure you have the the time, resource and strategy in place, setting you up to secure better outcomes

Get in touch

Procurement and contract management training

Upskilling your teams

Our consultants deliver practical, hands on training based on expertise and real experience.

Procurement training delivers:

improved compliance and reduced legal risk
a clear understanding of The Procurement Act 2023
actionable steps for procurement best practice
improved understanding of support service industries

Contract management training delivers:

best practice for operational and financial contract management
insight into what could go wrong, why it happens and how to prevent issues
clear steps to fix an underperforming contract

Whether you are preparing to procure a new support service, strengthening in‑house contract management, or struggling with an existing contract, we can tailor your training to your circumstances, empowering your staff to run procurements effectively, and manage contracts with confidence.

Get in touch

Best value review

Identifying opportunities and maximising return

How well are your current contracts performing? We help you:

benchmark your current services against industry standards
identify quick wins and shape longer term improvement plans
recommend changes that improve quality and reduce cost
build an options appraisal to evaluate future service models

We know what good looks like across all school support services and expect nothing less than the best for our schools. We’ll show you where your contracts are strong, and where they can deliver more.

We also highlight key areas to focus on ahead of any upcoming tenders, making sure each opportunity is fully maximised and leads to a tailored, best value outcome.

Get in touch

Tender management

Compliant, strategic and bespoke procurement

At RIVA, we see very tender as a huge opportunity for your school! We help you:

align new contracts with your strategy and objectives
raise the standards of your support services
reduce current contract costs
cut the internal time and expertise needed to run a compliant tender
set contracts up to perform well and be simple to manage

We don’t treat a tender as a one off procurement exercise. We we go back to the strategic first steps of the lifecycle to make sure the foundations are right. Anchored in this robust approach, our tender outcomes are consistently superior, delivering better value, lower risk contracts that last.

And the good news? You’ll achieve this without spending any more time or money!

Get in touch

Contract management

Monitoring the detail and demanding more

Contract delivery and it’s management is where the magic happens! – We can help you achieve:

improved cost control and full transparency
clear governance with timely, accurate reporting
faster issue resolution and minimal service disruption
more internal resource released for other priorities
a consistently improved student experience
compliance with the new Procurement Act 2023’s transparency requirements

A strong tender is important, but effective contract management is what ensures you get what was promised and that services stay at the standard your school expects.

Shift from fire fighting to pro-active value creation – our contract management services guarantee precisely that

Get in touch