Durham County Council
Durham County Council serves a diverse population of 600,000 residents across a mix of urban and rural areas. Their mission extends beyond basic service delivery; they aim to build a thriving, sustainable economy where public spending directly benefits local communities.
Richard Carroll, Chief Procurement Officer, oversees the council’s substantial procurement budget. His goal is to ensure compliance with public regulations while driving social value. The council’s "County Durham Pound" initiative reflects this commitment, striving to support local employment, reduce environmental impact through shorter supply chains, and foster resilience among small businesses and sole traders in the region.
''Amazon Business opens up the marketplace for a huge number of local and small and even sole trader businesses. I need a platform to be able to engage with those businesses. Amazon Business gives me that.''
— Richard Carroll, Chief Procurement Officer, Durham County Council
Despite their clear mission, the council faced significant operational hurdles that challenged their ability to support local businesses effectively. Without a unified system, individual departments often made purchases outside of approved channels, leading to a lack of oversight, making it difficult to track where money was being spent or to identify opportunities for consolidation.
"One of the challenges that I've got in procurement is making sure that spend is consistent and compliant," notes Carroll. The council needed a solution that offered flexibility for users while delivering the rigorous control required for public spending.
To address these challenges, Durham County Council implemented Amazon Business, rolling it out across council departments and schools. This partnership introduced critical tools that transformed their procurement strategy:
1. Tailored search for local prioritisation
The most impactful solution was the customisation of the search experience. Amazon Business worked closely with the council to configure their account so that when a user logs in with a Durham email address, the search results automatically prioritise Durham-based businesses.
2. Consolidated visibility and control
By moving to a single, multi-user account structure, the council gained full visibility into spending patterns. This consolidation eliminated maverick spend and allowed the procurement team to identify high-volume items for bulk purchasing, driving further efficiencies.
3. Opening the marketplace
Amazon Business provided a compliant platform that bridged the gap between the council and smaller local vendors. It opened the marketplace to a huge number of local small businesses and sole traders who were already selling on Amazon but previously had no easy route to supply the council.
The partnership has delivered tangible economic and environmental benefits for County Durham:
- Skyrocketing local spend: The council successfully increased spending with local businesses from under 10% to over 44%.
- Economic resilience: By directing funds to local suppliers, the council is directly supporting jobs and economic stability within the community.
- Environmental sustainability: Prioritising local suppliers has reduced the distance goods travel, lowering carbon emissions associated with transport and logistics.
- National recognition: The council’s success in driving social value through procurement has been recognised with a National Social Value Award and multiple GO Awards.
"Without thinking, you're now supporting local businesses. That's been a real game changer for us.''
— Richard Carroll, Chief Procurement Officer, Durham County Council
Looking ahead, Durham County Council plans to deepen its collaboration with Amazon Business to further enhance social value. The council views the relationship not just as a transactional one, but as a strategic partnership that evolves to meet the changing needs of the community.
By continuing to refine their approach, Durham County Council is setting a benchmark for how public sector organisations can leverage digital procurement to drive local economic growth and social good.
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