The team provides commercial expertise across a range of areas in market facing category teams.
Defra group Commercial (DgC) is part of Defra and is responsible for a £6bn contracts pipeline with a team of circa 250 commercial professionals. We are growing to meet the needs of our customers and an increasing spend portfolio. We deliver a range of focused commercial services across the Defra group. We lead on end-to-end procurement and category management, provide contract and supplier relationship management support, deliver assurance for complex commercial transactions, and deliver general grants. We also keep Defra compliant with procurement regulations
and promote government policy through procurement. We provide commercial services to organisations within Defra group which include Environment Agency (EA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Natural England (NE).
Below we have included an overview of all the teams in DgC. For this campaign there are vacancies in all our Sourcing Category Teams.
The Infrastructure/Construction category team deliver construction and civil engineering commercial services and mainly support the Environment Agency in the construction and maintenance of the UK’s national flood and coastal defence infrastructure. This is a very high-profile area, and the Government has recently announced a significantly increased £5.2bn funding settlement to improve fund defences over the next 6 years. The programme of work dedicated to improving flood and coastal defences has already resulted in over 314,000 homes now better protected from flooding since 2015.
The Science Capability in Animal Health (SCAH) Commercial Team support the multibillion-pound SCAH programme which aims to redevelop the APHA Weybridge site. This world-class science centre is an internationally important site and provides the UK’s main animal health science capability. The site requires major upgrades to continue functioning and to meet the future threats posed by animal disease. The commercial team source a diverse range of programme professional services and early design and enabling works to facilitate the initial phases of the programme, whilst also supporting the current operation of the Weybridge site through a dedicated commercial Critical Works team.
The Building office team procures the goods and services relating to the development and maintenance of the Defra Group Estate. This includes services such as design and construction, office refurbishments, variable one off maintenance, property supporting infrastructure such as car parks, electric vehicle (EV) chargers and gatehouses or related goods such as furniture and flooring. The team also procure Professional Services relating to construction works, such as Designers, Architects, planning support, project managers, building surveyors and cost consultants.
The Environmental Goods & Services (EGS) team deliver contracts for research, surveillance monitoring services and equipment and clean up materials. Expert advice and technical support on environmental matters, laboratory equipment and maintenance, including veterinary and disease control services. Through these contracts you will directly contribute towards environmental improvements. With fragmented reactive spend across a diverse customer group, there is real opportunity for leveraging spend and bringing services, customers, and suppliers together to deliver more value for Defra.
The Grants & Grant Prominent Programme (G&GPP) is the newest category in Defra group Commercial. The team provides commercial oversight of several high-profile programmes where the funding mechanism may be grants, contracts or collaborative agreements (programmes including the Farming and Countryside Programme, Nature for Climate Fund, Official Development Assistance, and the UK Seafood Fund). In addition, all general grants for the Core Department are delivered by the team. As well as providing expert advice and technical support on contracts, the team exploits the opportunities and synergies in the grant and commercial processes, ensuring grant schemes are designed and delivered with commercial acumen and a focus on value for money to improve outcomes. Through this work you will directly contribute towards delivery of well publicised environmental improvements both domestically and internationally.
The Technology Team are helping Defra transform the way in which it delivers its IT services, making it simpler, faster, and more sustainable. Working in Technology the team offers an opportunity to make a real difference in a category that is challenging, varied and high profile. The Technology Team sources all Defra’s IT requirements from software and business apps to connectivity and Data Geospatial requirements. The team is market facing and agile which enables us to respond to emerging technologies and engage flexibly with customers, aligning and consolidating the IT goods and services that we buy for the Defra Group.
The Corporate Services Team manages the commercial arrangements required for Defra group relating to corporate services (travel, fleet, PPE, uniforms), workforce including Learning & Development and employee benefits and also consultancy and contingent labour with annual spend of over £350m delivering annual savings of over £20m. The team work closely with Crown Commercial Services (CCS) and use their frameworks across all their sub-categories. The team are currently working closely with Defra group Fleet (DgF) colleagues to develop a commercial strategy to support their 0% carbon emissions target.
The team also supports the systems (e-Tendering, P2P, e-Marketplace, etc.) and data to support DgC and manages relationships with Cabinet Office and Other Government Departments (OGD’s).
Locations
Our commercial offices are based in Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Newcastle, Peterborough, Reading, Warrington and York. These locations are available for all roles other than where specified below.
Buildings
Office Locations as above plus Nottingham or Weybridge (Security Clearance is required to be located at Weybridge).
Infrastructure
Office Locations - Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Peterborough and Warrington only
SCAH
Office Locations Weybridge, Surrey (Security Clearance is required to be located at Weybridge) only.
Meet two new joiners
Andrew Watson joined Defra recently from another Government Department, here he speaks about why he joined the Commercial Team in Defra.
“In the UK, environmental challenges faced by our waterways, our countryside, our wildlife, the air we breathe and the food we eat, are now front-page news and so, for me, the opportunity to work with the Government body that makes a difference in these areas was always a no-brainer.
But when asked recently what my primary attraction to Defra was the answer was more straightforward: the people.
Whilst working for the Home Office at the height of the Covid pandemic in spring 2020, I was offered the opportunity of a secondment placement working with the Defra team as the commercial lead for the Government’s emergency food parcel scheme (sending food and care packages to the most vulnerable/shielded people in the UK at the most fraught of times).
What struck me most about my 4 months with Defra was the attitude and atmosphere of positivity within the team, and the culture of collaboration. I was left with the sense that this was a group of empowered, passionate and dedicated civil servants pulling together to get the best out of one another and deliver positive change.
Naturally I jumped at the chance when a formal position became available in Defra group Commercial. I wanted to be part of this team, working with these people. Since joining at the start of June I have been blown away by the development opportunities, the support, the atmosphere around our various hubs and also the sense of ownership and empowerment that the leadership team encourages; from day 1. Whether you’re in Bristol, Birmingham, London, Peterborough or at any of Defra’s sites, there is a real sense of community and teamwork, across a group of very bright and engaged people. No surprise, then, that our team is growing.
And that’s because whilst what we do at Defra is important, how we do it, and who we do it with, is what really makes Defra stand out. I can honestly say that moving to the Defra Commercial team has been the best career choice I’ve made. Hands down.
The geographical spread of DgC’s office was very attractive to me and wherever you are based in there is a real sense of community and teamwork, across a group of very bright and engaged people. No surprise, then, that our team is growing”
Claudia Le Blanc is also a new joiner. Here Claudia explains why she joined Defra from the private sector.
“Having completed a degree in International Relations & Politics and then going onto study Environmental Politics, I always saw working in Central Government to help combat the environmental crisis as part of my longer-term career.
I have been extremely fortunate to work across a range of industries from renewable energy, nuclear, to consulting services and information technology. I have acquired a wide range of skills working across the private sector which I am now able to apply working in Government and with Defra group Commercial.
I joined Defra 3 months ago and what struck me straight away was that I am part of a highly motivated and skilled team who are fiercely passionate about improving and protecting the environment.
The professional skills and passion of my colleagues shines through in how they work every day, but it is the positivity and drive to do better is something which makes Defra standout as a truly great place to work.”
