A Week in the Life of Cost Consultant Advantage Buying Supporting UK Care Homes
Advantage Buying compares pricing from their database of suppliers with the business costs of care homes to find best prices available and the right contract for their care home clients in order to optimise their bottom line.
The cost consultants source prices from a live market covering a range of suppliers allowing them to see the best options available on the day which reduces the administrative time for a care home. This in turn enables them to spend time productively elsewhere in the business.
When the client opts to switch suppliers due to one of Advantage Buying’s quotes to take advantage of the competitive pricing, the experienced team of cost consultants at Advantage Buying manage the whole process without disruption to the care home’s business operations.
Nick Brookes commented that: “Advantage Buying is a leading cost management company focussed on reducing costs for all areas of your care home business.”
“A no charge service carrying out a price check and review on all your current care home services.”
Ownacarehome ask Nick Brookes of Advantage Buying what a typical working week looks like for him:
Nick responded: “Busier than normal monitoring Food, Care Products and Energy prices. This week I have travelled to see two new clients, reviewing costs from various areas for one of the care home providers I visited such as energy supply, food procurement, care products and waste management to name a few.”
“After analysing the operational costs compared to our real time supplier data, I prepare and subsequently present a cost saving proposal to a care provider. This could be to the care home owner, their operations management team or both.”
“This week I have presented to a 60 bed care home after analysing their energy costs and finding a clear saving. Currently energy prices are dropping and myself and my team monitor the supply price on a daily basis for new and existing clients.”
“At the same time, I presented the 30.37% savings found on their care products and having analysed their food products and supply chain I also presented savings on a like for like basis of 10.37% .
Gas Wholesale pricing over the last 2 years
“At Advantage Buying we have the relevant tools and systems in place to allow us to provide current available pricing live from the markets to the care home sector. We are usually able to turn most services around within a two-three weeks window ensuring pricing is as real time as possible against the supplier information provided.”
Owner with 2 care homes
"I have used Nick and his team for several years now and have found them to have a good understanding of the utilities market and the care sector. They are efficient and responsive, offering options explaining advantages and disadvantages of each enabling us to make the best decision for our business. They run a seamless service from initial contact through to signing contracts with energy suppliers. Very professional and efficient service, I would have no hesitation in recommending".
Nick commented: “This week I have worked with a group of day nurseries streamlining their waste services following an acquisition of a few new sites to add to their portfolio. It is important the services match the requirements and are at the most competitive rates. Following the analysis for this nursery group we established savings of 32.5% which was £5,398 per annum on just 4 new sites.”
“When looking at contract management, such as energy and waste Advantage Buying are able to write contracts to a single end date and with one supplier making the process less time consuming and easier for the account’s teams of our clients.”
“ This is not just a money saving exercise it’s also a massive help in time management for our client.”
Nick continued: “The Advantage Buying Account Managers monitor the daily market prices and are therefore able to suggest the better times to sign a contract as these can be actioned now up to twelve months in advance if the pricing is right. The Advantage Buying Account Manager is able to serve termination for our client and send out quotes/pricing for various supplies with various terms of contract. We gain the contract from the supplier of choice and once our client has agreed we submit this to the supplier and manage the process from there on.”
“We will then have ensured that across a group of care homes any contract is aligned coterminous and fully managed by the Account Manager, meaning that the operational costs are optimised, and the care home administration team can concentrate on other areas of running the care home business.”
Ownacarehome asked how Advantage Buying reduced its carbon footprint.
Nick commented: “In this digital accelerating world we offer virtual meetings as well as face to face, with data capture electronic where care home businesses have embraced digital accounting software. They are able to provide all information required quickly and easily electronically via email.”
“Once we have the information, we are able to quickly establish time and cost savings available to the business.”
Ownacarehome asked Nick how he responds to a care home when they say they are only wanting to work in a green supply chain, especially with the CQC looking at environmental sustainability within the quality statements of the single assessment framework.”
Nick Brookes highlighted that Advantage Buying is adept at saving operational costs for care homes supporting the care sector to be sustainable for the long term in a rapidly changing and ageing society. Advantage Buying supports the care sector reduce its costs across nursing and residential care homes, supported and assisted living, along with care homes and facilities for children and young people.
“Advantage Buyings’ knowledge of products and services are second to none.”
A care home owner
