19 May 2021

Councils charged triple the recommended mark-up on IT products

Councils charged triple the recommended mark-up on IT products image

Councils are paying more than three times the recommended mark-up on technology products, a new study has revealed.

The analysis by Probrand found that before the pandemic, the average margin paid by local councils on technology was 9.8%. The Society of IT Managers states that organisations should be paying no more than a 3% margin to suppliers.

One council was found to be paying margins of nearly 580% on its purchases, nearly two hundred times higher than the recommended mark-up.

The study also found mark-ups spiked 'dramatically' during the first national lockdown, rising to more than 50% on average for all tech buyers.

Ian Nethercot, MCIPS supply chain director at Probrand, said: 'When we conduct spending reviews it’s not unusual to find some organisations paying way more than 3% over the trade price of the product – especially if they don’t have price monitoring tools in place. In recent years though, we’ve seen companies getting more savvy when it comes to restricting the margins paid to suppliers.

'COVID-19 completely changed the landscape, however. We witnessed both a huge spike in demand and a significant contraction in supply – due to factories closing in Asia and planes being grounded. There is no doubt that this extreme supply and demand characteristic resulted in panic buying, with people prepared to buy whatever they could get their hands on at whatever price in order to equip staff working from home.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay Award Pending)
Do you want to work in an ambitious Local Authority with strong leadership and partnership commitment to Children’s Services? Durham County Council a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

SENDIASS Support Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
An exciting and rewarding opportunity has arisen within the busy and fast paced SEND Information, Advice, Support Service (SENDIASS). The service has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Residential Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Leader

Durham County Council
Grade 8 £31,586 - £35,235 (Pay Award Pending)
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650- £33,483
Class Teacher MPS 1 -2   £31,650- £33,483 Temporary – required from Monday 1st September 2025 (subject to DBS) until 31st August 2026 25 hours per wee Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner