Purchasing Scheme

The OBN Purchasing Scheme has saved members over £1m since it was set up in 2008 and it delivers significant cost savings for Full Member companies and has generally saved their membership costs several times over. In some cases member companies are saving tens of thousands of pounds on their laboratory spend alone.

As part of the benefits of becoming a Full Member, we also offer a free purchasing consultancy service to our members.

Our scheme was mentioned in very positive terms in an article in national newspaper the Independent in 2009, and has attracted many prominent members including Syntaxin, BioVex, OSI Pharmaceuticals (UK), Orchid and Oxford Immunotec and covers the whole of the UK. Our group scheme is the only one to offer a group Private Medical Insurance scheme.

 The OBN Purchasing Scheme is only available to Full Members. In addition to competitive prices and better quality of service, companies receive the additional benefits associated with reduced administrative costs and enhanced service and purchasing expertise.

The scheme covers products:

   Laboratory consumables and equipment (Thermo Fisher Scientific)

   Laboratory Gases (Air Products)

   Dry ice (Green Gases) 

   Stationery, office supplies and print supplies (B-Line Business Supplies)

As well as services: 

   OBN Private Medical Insurance scheme (FOCUS/BUPA)

   Employee Benefits (FOCUS) 

   Clinical Trials Insurance (FOCUS/CHUBB) 

   Telecoms (STL) 

   IT Services (Riverbank)

   PR Services (Citigate)

   Interim Managers (InterRea)

   Employee Screening services (details on application) 

  

If you are thinking about joining, OBN can carry out a cost-benefit analysis demonstrate the case for your company becoming a Full Member of OBN, and therefore being able to access the benefits of the Purchasing Group. 

 Lab Supplies Agreement Delivering:

• Substantial discounts off catalogue prices
• No minimum order quantities
• No delivery charges
• Next day delivery
• Volume rebates
• Web accessed supplier order page with sign-off levels of approval 
• Guide payment terms of 30 days with monthly consolidated invoicing available
• members core list
• Networking face to face with other buyers
• Local OBN consultant management of the scheme

Contact:

Nigel Kirkman, OBN Purchasing Manager on nigel.kirkman@obn.org.uk or 0845 5049715 or Ray Chan, Business Development manager on ray.chan@obn.org.uk or 0845 5049717

Note: Universities, public research institutes, hospitals and government may only join as an OBN Associate Member and therefore can not currently qualify to join the Purchasing Scheme. Full Membership is limited to private companies, public-listed companies, not-for-profit companies, sole traders and partnerships.