Benefits of Membership

LUPC is a not-for-profit buying organisation owned by its Members, for its Members. As a Member you will benefit from:

• Guaranteed savings: Our Members’ average return on investment is 63:1, saving institutions £26.7 million in 2010-11. There is also a reduction in tendering costs and time for both buyers and suppliers.
• Guaranteed compliance: Through a combination of EU Directives and UK case law, public procurement is becoming increasingly complex and vulnerable to litigation. All LUPC contacts and framework agreements are tendered by experts and are compliant with all relevant rules and regulations, thus minimising the risk of legal challenge.
• Access to more than 70 agreements: LUPC has a diverse portfolio of professionally arranged agreements in place, and is constantly adding to this range, based on Member demand. Our agreements cover a range of goods and services, and are tailored to the specific requirements of our Membership.
• Exclusive discounts on BravoSolution’s Spend Analysis Shared Service: Members can access a range of reports using BravoSolution’s web-based system, allowing you to carry out your own detailed analysis to help identify spend trends and savings solutions for your institution.
• Free access to Creditsafe: Members have access to a fast, consolidated online credit referencing service, helping you to check supplier information, reduce business risk and save considerable expense.
• Free EU procurement advice on hand: If you have problems with a particular EU procurement strategy or project, you can receive free advice from Achilles through the LUPC agreement.
• Free membership of The Energy Consortium (TEC): Membership of The Energy Consortium is included in your LUPC Membership fee, so you can put all your energy procurement through them.
• Regular news, training and events: Members can keep up-to-date with LUPC agreements and changes to the wider public procurement landscape via a free monthly e-Bulletin, quarterly print newsletter and regular free or low-cost training opportunities; recent training topics included an EU directives update and using NEC3 contracts.
• Annual Member savings report: LUPC provides each Member with an individual annual report setting out savings and spend through LUPC agreements. We also report on non-consortium spend that could be re-directed through our agreements, helping to identify further potential savings.
• Annual Scope 3 carbon emissions report: Using Member spend data and a HEFCE-developed reporting tool, we provide Members with a report to help quantify your performance in this area of sustainability.
• Excellent opportunities for collaboration and networking: LUPC provides opportunities to share ideas, best practice and experience with colleagues from other institutions across the higher education, further education, arts, science and cultural sectors.
• Full Member engagement: Members are at the heart of all LUPC’s activities and are consulted on the shape and delivery of all agreements before launch or re-tender. Full Members have voting rights to elect and join LUPC’s Board and Executive Committee, ensuring we offer an organisation that is truly owned by its Members, for its Members.

Read full details of LUPC's Membership benefits and typical savings.

Start reducing costs - Join us!

Membership of LUPC is open to universities and colleges in and around the capital, as well as other not-for-profit, public and third-sector organisations from our neighbouring sectors in the arts, sciences and education.  Membership is based on your non-pay spend and below are details of how to apply.

Read details of our Membership benefits and typical savings.

In 2010, LUPC introduced a new business model to significantly reduce Membership fees. Institutions are banded according to their annual non-pay procurement spend, and charged a fee accordingly. The current fee structure is shown below.

How to apply for Full Membership: