Eligibility

Full Membership is available to all HEI's that operate their own in-house catering service and are willing to commit themselves to SNUPI activities. Associate membership is available to Institutes of Further Education (FEI's) and other public sector bodies giving access to the contracting programme.

A Higher Education institution wishing to use our contracts will usually also be a member either of a Regional Purchasing Consortium and/or of The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO).

Types of membership

Higher Education institutions and certain bodies controlled by these institutions are eligible for full voting membership.  Other institutions and bodies are eligible for associate membership.

The service provided is exactly the same under both types of membership.

Fees

Membership is completely free of charge, although a stringent membership criterion is required before membership is approved.  Operating costs are covered by charging suppliers a small percentage of the contract value.  Operating surpluses are re-invested to provide members with added value e.g. subsidised training and networking opportunities.

Using SNUPI Contracts

SNUPI contracts are framework Agreements with chosen suppliers, tendered in accordance with EU regulations and normally for a maximum of four years.   The terms of SNUPI contracts, including price and service levels, are incorporated in orders placed on the suppliers by SNUPI members and other authorised users.

Administration procedures for using current SNUPI contracts, management of existing contracts, complaints procedures, and supplier assessments are to be found in the Contracts section of this website.  In particular, where a new contract is to be tendered or an existing contract is to be retendered, members and authorised users are requested to sign an “Expression of interest” form for each contract that they are interested in using prior to the contract being tendered. Once the proposed contract has been evaluated and the members have been given an overview of the terms of the new arrangement, users are asked to sign a ‘Commitment Form’ to fully participate in the contract.

Retrospective Rebates

Contracts with many SNUPI suppliers include provisions for payment of retrospective rebates, geared usually to overall volumes.  Our policy is to collect all rebates due from suppliers on behalf of members and other authorised users and to distribute annually the total rebates collected, in proportion to the usages of the relevant contracts by each member and authorised user.

Joining SNUPI

If you are interested in using our contracts and think you are eligible to participate, our staff (contact details on the home page) or any of our Board members will be pleased to discuss this further with you. 

If you decide to join, you will be sent a copy of our Members’ Agreement (also downloadable from the Members section of this website) and asked to complete the application form attached to the Membership Agreement.