Sustainability

AIM

A network formed by the HCSA to support members and the wider NHS in meeting its sustainable procurement responsibilities. The network will seek to represent HCSA members to identify sustainability opportunities, share learning, encourage communication, and create a supportive culture.

Background

1. All UK home nations have legal responsibilities relating to Procuring goods and services in a sustainable way. These considerations include, but not limited to, Social Value, the Environment, the Foundational Economy, the Circular Economy and Decarbonisation.

2. The public sector has a vital role to play in furthering sustainable development through the procurement of goods and services. In recognition of this role, the HCSA will work with suppliers of goods and services to deliver positive outcomes.

Purpose and role of the group

The purpose of this group is to enable HCSA and its members to achieve the following:

Create & Communicate:

• To share best practice amongst HCSA members
• To engage with HCSA partners to invite them to share best practice and new innovations
• Encourage collaboration between other HCSA networks, i.e., Women’s & Equality & Diversity groups

Educate:

• To discuss & develop best practice tools and techniques for members to procure goods and services in a sustainable way
• To encourage shared learning with ‘Go See’ days
• Signpost members to existing sustainability training resources
• To create sustainability training by working with the HCSA Learning and Development Network

Advocate:

• To ensure that all HCSA conferences meet their sustainability and decarbonisation objectives
• Create HCSA Sustainability Champions

Group membership

Network Chair:  Michelle McCann

Michelle oversees the strategic direction for Sustainability, Social Value and Innovation at NHS LPP. She is responsible for leading the approach across NHS member trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in London to enable them to support sustainability initiatives that will positively contribute to the delivery of NHS Net Zero target by 2040, and embed, track and measure social value in procurement activity to maximise the impact achieved for local communities.    

Michelle is dedicated to educating and inspiring all to live greener. She specialises in engagement with stakeholders and customers by taking a collaborative approach – using appropriate consultation blended with defining practical needs. Working closely with London ICBs, anchor institutions, NHS London, the London Estates Delivery Board and others, in early 2022, she helped deliver a pan-London Social Value Tool for ICBs which is now tracking and reporting on the Social Value commitments made by suppliers through the procurement process, against the Social Value priorities for the region.  

Prior to this, in addition to her role as Category Director for NHS LPP’s Estates, Facilities and Professional Services category, Michelle embedded a keen and growing interest in Sustainability and Social Value amongst staff, through the ‘Greener LPP’ initiative, which features regular campaigns and challenges to keep the topics at front of mind for staff.   

Michelle has over 25 years’ experience working within public sector Estates teams. Before joining NHS LPP, she was Head of Procurement, Estates Contracts and Finance at Goldsmiths, University of London and prior to that worked as the Strategic Planning Manager in the Estates team at the Medical Research Council’s head office.  

Deputy Chair:   Clare Nash 

Clare is a critical care nurse by trade and has been a clinical procurement nurse with a side order of sustainability since 2018. 

She loves speaking about her favourite topic to anyone that will listen and supports the embedding of sustainability into nursing and midwifery care pathways through better product choices. 

• HCSA Trustee Sponsor:         Ian Turner

• HCSA Executive Sponsor:      TBC

• NHSE Representative            Kelly Wilson 

Podcasts

Clare Nash discusses sustainable procurement, the climate emergency, DHSC’s Design for Life circular economy and the work and goals of the HCSA Sustainability and Social Value Network.