Business Plan
The below is a summary, download a copy of our full Business Plan 2025-2028
"I look forward to leading STAR into this next phase of four years, to deliver more, evidence-based real impact and to ensure we have approaches and a workforce that continues to grow and to be the very best we can be underpinned by the spirit of partnership and collaboration as ‘many hands make light work’."
Lorraine Cox - Director, STAR Procurement
Our Offer
Our strategic approach means we can support our Partners with their wider Corporate Priorities, outcomes, and objectives, which enables our delivery to reach and impact on the Greater Manchester Communities (people and businesses). This also means that we can grow and provide support and diversify into new sectors and industries.
We are proud of our achievements to date.
The STAR Procurement Core Offer is delivered through our experienced and professional Delivery and Development Teams. Our offer reflects the needs of our Partners and ensures consistency and parity in our approach and the service we provide. This enables us to have a clear understanding of the role we have, how we work and support our partners, focuses on areas where we can demonstrate and add value and where we can act as a strategic enabler.
Through our team’s experience, skills, and expertise we also deliver an Extended Offer, which includes a range of other added value support activities for our Partners and other customers regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Our Business
"There are exciting plans for STAR in this new Business Plan and STAR Joint Committee will be supporting them to achieve their ambitious vision and objectives."
Cllr Naylor, Chair STAR Joint Committee
Our Vision: Leading Transformation Through Procurement and Co-Operation
Protect
We aim to prioritise proactive measures to address social and economic disparities within our communities. Central to our approach is the commitment to supporting our partners to drive social value impact, ensuring that procurement decisions contribute positively to the local social, economic, and environmental landscape. By integrating social value principles into our processes, we will continue to create opportunities for local organisations and residents and ensure that our contracts generate wider benefits, such as job creation and retention, community development, and community wealth.
Pioneering
As a pioneering procurement shared service, we are committed to driving innovation at every level of our operations. We actively seek out new ways of working that enhance our efficiency and effectiveness, encouraging our team to think creatively and challenge conventional practices. By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, we empower our staff to explore fresh approaches that can lead to better procurement outcomes and improved service delivery.
Prosperity
Fostering prosperity for our partners and ourselves, is a key objective that drives our strategic initiatives. Our proactive approach allows us to make informed decisions, respond quickly to challenges, and celebrate successes, all of which contribute to the overall prosperity of STAR and our partners.
Professional
We endeavour to always operate with the highest standards of professionalism, ensuring that all activities are underpinned by strong compliance and governance frameworks. We adhere rigorously to relevant legislation, policies, and guidance’s, fostering a culture of accountability that enhances trust among our partners and clients.
Partnership
In STAR, the concept of partnership and collaboration is fundamental to our success and effectiveness. We foster collaboration across STAR and the city regions of our partners, recognising that shared goals and collective expertise lead to greater impact.
People
At the heart of STAR is a strong commitment to our people. We recognise that effective leadership and a skilled and motivated workforce are essential for our success. Our leadership team fosters a culture of collaboration and empowerment, encouraging all staff to contribute their ideas and expertise, in a positive organisational culture that attracts top talent and fosters diversity.
Our Enablers
Our enablers are what we have in place to support us to deliver the ambitious vision and objectives that we have set ourselves. They also form part of our USP and provide us with resilience and confidence to innovate, grow and diversify.
Leadership and Governance
Through our STAR Board and STAR Joint Committee we have robust governance and strategic decision makers embedded within the delivery and development of STAR. This helps to ensure their needs are met and that we utilise their leadership, vision, and strategic support to further develop and improve. This sponsorship from the top and strong governance provides transparency and confidence in our delivery and development.
Communication and Engagement
We value the importance of celebrating our successes and promoting our achievements. Through a planned and structured approach we promote the work that we do, share good practice, and ensure that the success of STAR as an entity is celebrated, as well as our successful projects, commissions and experiences of our people.
Technology and Data
Robust and transparent data is a key enabler for us. Through effective use of data we are able to drive our performance, benchmark, identify collaboration, ensure compliance, and identify areas for continuous improvement.
Talent Management
All our successes to date have been made possible thanks to the passion, confidence, and flexibility of our entire team. We are proud to be the ‘Employer of Choice’ and have successfully recruited and retained a diverse, skilled, and trusted team.
STAR Business Plan 2025 - 2028 published January 2025