There are a several category groups across the UK Universities Purchasing Consortia (UKUPC) which LUPC staff are involved in. Many of them include participation by LUPC members, with some being national groups and others specific to LUPC.

The groups engage in category discussions around the supplier market, best practice procurement, contract/framework performance, management of framework suppliers and responsible procurement.

Members are very welcome to get involved in any that are of interest. Please contact the group lead for more information.

Name of Group Category or Agreement Level Participation Lead Purpose of the Group Frequency of meeting
    Participants Staff at Member Organisations of UKUPC UKUPC Consortia Staff (Category Managers)      
NATIONAL ESTATES GROUP Category UKUPC and CPC Consortia Staff involved in Estates procurement. N Y APUC (Andy Anderson)
aanderson@apuc-scot.ac.uk		 Reviews the functional areas of the Estates category and its range of sub-categories, and investigates opportunities for collaboration.    Twice-yearly
JCG (Joint Consortia Group) FURNITURE CATEGORY GROUP Agreement UKUPC Consortia Staff  involved in Furniture procurement. N Y NEUPC (Sam Wells)

s.wells@neupc.ac.uk

 Provides a forum for consortia category managers to exchange information, discuss developments, and share capital programme needs and concerns related to furniture. Supports Furniture agreements with any market issues or contract management related challenges. Minimum of twice-yearly
NATIONAL OFFICE SUPPLIES GROUP Agreement UKUPC member organisations and UKUPC Consortia Staff involved in Office, Stationery and Computer Consumables  Supplies purchasing activity. Y Y NWUPC (David Yates) David.Yates@nwupc.ac.uk Discussions around supplier market, best practice procurement, contract/framework performance and management of framework suppliers, and responsible procurement. Minimum of twice yearly
NATIONAL ICT GROUP Category Typically, each consortium is represented by their ICT Category Manager plus one 'Technical' representative from a member organisation. Jisc also included. Y Y LUPC (Mike Kilner)
m.kilner@lupc.ac.uk 		 Reviews and implements the NICT strategy in a consistent way across the Consortia, thereby minimising duplication whilst maximising available resources and value for money. Currently meeting every 4-5 weeks with a further sub-group for the ICT Spend project.
APPLE GROUP  Agreement Typically, each consortium is represented by either their ICT Category Manager and/or a member university plus one 'Technical' representative from a member organisation.  Y Y HEPCW (Howard Allaway)
h.allaway@wales.ac.uk		 Collaborates to obtain maximum value for money in the procurement of Apple ICT. Leads on all strategic decisions around the agreement using input from local groups. Evaluation of tenders including bidder meetings.  Normally every six months with additional meetings before and during the main tender process.
AV GROUP Agreement Typically, each consortium is represented by either their ICT/AV Category Manager and/or a member university plus one 'Technical' representative from a member organisation.  Y Y NEUPC (Paul Eagleton) p.eagleton@neupc.ac.uk Collaborates to obtain maximum value for money in the procurement of AV. Leads on all strategic decisions around the agreement using input from local groups. Evaluation of AV tenders including bidder meetings.  Twice-yearly supported with programme related emails and market news. 
ITRAP GROUP Agreement Typically, each consortium is represented by either their ICT/AV Category Manager and/or a member university plus one 'Technical' representative from a member organisation.  Y Y SUPC (Mark Lewis)
m.r.lewis@reading.ac.uk		 Collaborates to obtain maximum value for money in the procurement of Misc ICT. Leads on all strategic decisions around the agreement using input from local groups. Evaluation of ITRAP tenders including bidder meetings.  Normally every six months with additional meetings before and during the main tender process.
NDNA GROUP
(National - Desktops and Notebooks)		 Agreement Typically, each consortium is represented by either their ICT Category Manager and/or a member university plus one 'Technical' representative from a member organisation. APUC N/A. Y Y LUPC (Mike Kilner)
m.kilner@lupc.ac.uk		 Collaborates to obtain maximum value for money in the procurement of Client ICT. Leads on all strategic decisions around the agreement using input from local groups. Evaluation of NDNA tenders including bidder meetings.  Normally every six months with additional meetings before and during the main tender process.
NEPA GROUP
(Printers)		 Agreement Typically, each consortium is represented by either their ICT Category Manager and/or a member university plus one 'Technical' representative.  Y Y NEUPC (Paul Eagleton) p.eagleton@neupc.ac.uk Collaborates to obtain maximum value for money in the procurement of Client and Managed Print. Leads on all strategic decisions around the agreement using input from local groups. Evaluation of NEPA tenders.  Normally every six months with additional meetings before and during the main tender process.
SSSNA GROUP
(National - Servers, Storage and Solutions)		 Agreement Typically, each consortium is represented by either their ICT Category Manager and/or a member university plus one 'Technical' representative from a member organisation. APUC N/A. Y Y SUPC (Mark Lewis)
m.r.lewis@reading.ac.uk		 Collaborate to obtain maximum value for money in Enterprise ICT. Lead on all strategic decisions around the agreement using input from local groups. Evaluation of SSSNA tenders including bidder meetings.  Normally every six months with additional meetings before and during the main tender process.
LIBRARY PURCHASING COORDINATION GROUP (LPCG) Category UKUPC Consortia Staff involved in Library procurement. N Y Chair: Gary Steele, Glasgow Caledonian University
Gary.Steele@gcu.ac.uk 		 Serves as a forum to share information, coordinate responses and give procurement a voice in the UK higher education sector. Quarterly
NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GROUP Category UKUPC member organisations and UKUPC Consortia Staff involved in professional services procurement. Y Y NEUPC (Matt Johnson)
m.johnson@neupc.ac.uk		 Discussions around supplier market, best practice procurement, contract/framework performance and management of framework suppliers, and responsible procurement. Twice-yearly
NATIONAL TRAVEL GROUP Agreement UKUPC Consortia Staff involved in Business Travel procurement. N Y SUPC (Daniel Dabrowski) d.dabrowski@reading.ac.uk Discussions around supplier market, best practice procurement, contract/framework performance and management of framework suppliers, and responsible procurement. Minimum of twice-yearly
NATIONAL STEMed GROUP  Category UKUPC member organisations and UKUPC Consortia Staff involved in  STEMed procurement. Y Y
SUPC (Taron Smith)  t.a.smith@supc.ac.uk
Chair: Jiteen Ahmed,
University of Aston		 Directs the development of STEMed category and sourcing plans which offer sustainable value for money and best meet the needs of the Higher Education Sector. Twice-yearly
HIGH VALUE LABORATORY EQUIPMENT (HVLE) NATIONAL WORKING PARTY Agreement UKUPC member organisations and UKUPC Consortia Staff involved in  HVLE procurement. Y Y Chair: Brian Dearden (APUC)
bdearden@apuc-scot.ac.uk		 Provides a forum for consortia stakeholders and end users to exchange information, discuss developments, and share concerns about the goods and suppliers within this framework, which due to the importance and cost of the equipment, can be a strategic area to many of our members. Minimum of twice-yearly
NUWPEC -
NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES WORKING PARTY ON ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 		 Agreement UKUPC member organisations and UKUPC Consortia Staff involved in Electronic Components procurement. Y Y Chair: Martin Williams, Cardiff Metropolitan University
mpwilliams@cardiffmet.ac.uk		 Provides a forum of consortia stakeholders and end users to exchange information, discuss developments, and share concerns related to electronic components. Minimum of twice-yearly