Commodities
A range of savings
There are hundreds of commodities and services for which pretty much every business has a use. Joint procurement makes real sense in these cases and they’re the ones that we are now reviewing.
We are collating and constantly updating information about collective usage and basic spend. At the same time, we are setting up shared-service arrangements and concentrating on the commodities where we believe the biggest savings are to be made. As new deals and products become available, we will present them to BID members for their review and possible usage.
Our taxi framework is already available to business in Holborn. Click here to find our more about how it was created, and how you can save with it!
For a list of the commodities we are currently reviewing, see below. For further information on procurement, click here.
Register your interest
If there’s a particular area in which you are interested in cutting costs, please complete the downloadable Commodities Template and return it to andrew@meercatassociates.com. We will then review it and contact you to discuss opportunities.
Building Lighting
Brighter Buying Decisions
No less than 14% of the EU energy bill is currently spent on artificial lighting. In fact lighting accounts for between 20% and 40% of a building’s energy consumption and 75% of commercial buildings are still wasting money using outdated bulbs instead of the more energy-efficient and cost-effective alternatives.
Since they were first introduced, the efficiency of luminaries has increased by more than 5% every year. The intelligent lighting control systems now available can also help, providing lighting only when and where required. And, for every KWH of energy we save, we divert 0.542kg of CO2.
Review your building lighting - free
inholborn is currently working to offer BID members a free review of their building lighting with a free recommendations report. A supply chain has already been established to provide and install any products required.
We are also investigating the Enhanced Allowance Scheme and the Carbon Trust 0% interest-free loans to help you cut your lighting bills even further.
Energy
Use less and pay less
Energy bills are something no business can avoid. Energy prices can also be highly volatile, influenced as they are by so many global factors, and that can have a significant impact on your running costs.
Joint procurement is one highly effective way to cut your energy bill. Another is reducing your energy usage and we are also looking at ways to help you to do that as well.
A free energy audit for BID members
Our free energy audit identifies opportunities for cutting costs with your existing arrangements as well as highlighting areas where you could better manage your energy usage.
This is a free no-obligation service for inholborn BID members. We simply provide you with intelligence about the current market and potential savings so that you can make an informed decision to change suppliers or not.
To conduct the audit, we require a Letter of Authority from you, giving us access to the usage data held by your current provider. We can then analyse this to compile your energy report.
You can book an energy audit, even if you are currently tied into an existing contract by calling 020 7078 7077 or emailing info@inholborn.org.uk. We will ensure that your details are included in our database for immediate or future opportunities.
Please post the Letter of Authority to: inholborn, 307-308 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7LL or email it to andrew@meercatassociates.com
Portable Appliance Testing
Who needs Portable Appliance Testing?
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is the regular inspection and testing of electrical equipment and associated leads/plugs to ensure the safety of users. A wide range of premises from hotels and restaurants to offices and colleges are legally required to carry out periodic safety checks on all portable or transportable electrical appliances. That’s anything with a flexible cable and/or plug for mains operation and covers everything from electric kettles and desk lamps to computers and photocopiers.
PAT testing must be carried out regularly by a competent trained person and includes a range of checks designed to ensure that any unsafe equipment is removed from service and staff and customers are protected from potential electrical hazards.
If your business does not have a valid certificate of testing, you run the risk of invalidating your commercial insurance policy or even prosecution.
For more detailed information on PAT testing, download our Free Guide to Portable Appliance Testing (262.09 kB)
Taxis
Cut your cab costs
What is your business’ annual budget for personal transport? Whatever it is, the chances are that it’s far bigger than it needs to be.
Just consider the number of taxi rides made by Holborn businesses each year, each based on a separate pricing agreement. Then imagine how much better that deal could be when negotiated on a district-wide basis.
If you would like us to see what we could save you, we need to know a little more about your taxi usage. If you have this to hand, please email it to andrew@meercatassociates.com. Alternatively, we can collect it from your current provider but, for that, we will need a signed Letter of Authority giving us access to your usage and expenditure information.
And as a BID member, this service is completely free of charge.
Water
Savings on tap
If you currently provide drinking water for your staff or for customers, the chances are that you can quench their thirst far more cost-effectively and in a much more eco-friendly way.
Cooler water coolers
Many businesses provide drinking water in the shape of large bottles sitting on top of cooling units. Unfortunately, these bottles clock up long distances on the way to your cooler and back for refilling. In fact, we calculate that each bottle of cooler water is responsible for 1kg of CO2, the equivalent of an average family car travelling 18 kms.
The cost-effective alternative is a mains-fed water cooler that delivers filtered drinking water for little more than the price of tap water and substantially reduces the size of your carbon footprint.
Bottle it
If you provide bottled water as part of your business, whether in hotel rooms, for restaurants or business meetings, you can also use mains-fed filtering and serve the resulting drinking water in your own branded bottles. It’s a stylish and eco-friendly way to make significant cost savings.
Click here to find out more, or e-mail us directly or call 020 7078 7077 to discuss this or other cost and carbon saving initiatives.
These are the other commodities we are currently reviewing:
Building Cleaning
Catering
Computer Consumables
Consultants
Credit Card Merchant Fees
Document Destroying
Drinking Water
Energy - Gas
Energy - Electricity
Fire Equipment
Franking
Fuel Cards
Furniture
Janitorial Supplies
Maintenance - CCTV
Maintenance - Aircon
Maintenance - Fire Alarms
Maintenance - Heating & Hot Water
Maintenance - Electrical Installations
Mobile Phones
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
Pest Control
Photocopiers
Post/Couriers
PPE & Clothing
Printers
Reprographics
Sanitary Disposal
Stationery
Taxis
Telecoms - Phone
Telecoms - Broadband
Toners
Translation & Interpretation
Vending Services
Waste Management
Water - Mains Effluent
White Goods
Window Cleaning
