Procurement in the Culture, Media and Sport Sector

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the wide range of organisations it sponsors spend about £575 million a year buying goods and services. This NAO report examines the procurement practices used by the 25 largest organisations which are responsible for 97 per cent of the sector's procurement spend. Findings include that, whilst there are examples of good practice, procurement capabilities and practices are on the whole underdeveloped across the sector, and that better procurement practice could result in overall annual savings of £14 million by 2008-09 and double this within five years. The report sets out recommendations for ways to make further efficiencies into procurement across the sector, including improving co-ordinating how organisations work together to share knowledge and resources and to harness their buying power.