Purchasing habits research moves to next stage

pro.manchester, in conjunction with professionaliverpool, interviewed a sample group of 434 businesses, 15 councils and 25 public authorities and publicly-owned companies across the region to determine where money is spent. As well as establishing reasons for loyalty to the region, the project aims to establish the key deciders for individuals selecting certain suppliers. pro.manchester project leader Christine Oxenburgh, a practicing solicitor, said: "The first phase of our research revealed price is not the key driver and different sectors have hugely varied reasons for choosing suppliers. "Value for money was cited as an influencing factor but this is not a priority to all people. Speed of response, introductions to other opportunities and proximity were also deciding factors. "We are now moving into phase two, where a dedicated pro.manchester team will be conducting in-depth interviews with our survey respondents to dig deeper and uncover what really drives procurement decisions." Christine will lead a team of four interviewers, working to collate procurement information from a diverse range of regional businesses. The research is supported by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and will be conducted across the whole of the North West and members will be kept up-to- date with findings as the project progresses. To find out more about this research project and how you can be a part of it, contact Christine Oxenburgh on 0161 930 5151 or Rachel Smith on 0161 833 0964.