The Procurement Act 2023 is set to go live on the 24th of February 2025. It reforms procurement across the UK. Mostly. The devolved nations, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England, aren’t bound by all the regulations. Instead, they still operate under their own procurement policies. Mostly.
We’re going to dip into the public sector procurement market in each nation and see where they differ, and where their policies converge.
UK Government Frameworks in Procurement
Procurement frameworks are a cornerstone of the UK government’s strategy to streamline public sector procurement, even in devolved nations. These frameworks can standardise procurement contracts to facilitate the purchase of goods, works, and services in all the UK’s countries. In addition to standardisation, common frameworks help reduce costs and improve consistency across procurement practices.
Procurement in Scotland
Scotland is perhaps the most independent of the devolved nations. It’s committed to the same goals as the UK regarding sustainability, social value, accountability, community well-being, and net zero.
The difference is that each goal is tailored to Scotland’s priorities. Its priorities are aligned with the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, which includes inclusivity and innovation in public procurement – much like the Procurement Act.
Scotland also uses provisional common frameworks to align with UK-wide procurement standards post-Brexit.
Procurement in Wales
Wales is especially forward-focussed, which is evidenced by the Well-Being of Future Generations Act. You can see it in action in public procurement as it prioritises sustainability, and long-term social value initiatives, and encourages SMEs to play a bigger role in the public sector market.
Like Scotland, Wales uses common frameworks to manage procurement policies and ensure they align with the UK’s regulations.
Some of these priorities match the UK’s Procurement Act, especially sustainability, social value, and removing barriers to entry for SMEs.
Procurement in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is particularly affected by post-Brexit challenges. However, it also has a wealth of opportunities to boost public procurement. Its priorities are different from the others because the focus is on economic recovery and growth. It favours infrastructure development and digitisation in the public sector and the country as a whole.
Northern Ireland also uses provisional common frameworks to align with procurement regulations and leverage cross-border collaboration opportunities to secure the national and local economies.
Procurement in England
England’s procurement policies most closely align with the UK’s Procurement Act, for example, it prioritises large-scale infrastructure tenders, digitisation, and healthcare-related projects. One of the primary aims is to streamline procurement processes to make them more efficient (and cost-efficient). It also prioritises fair and transparent competition in the public procurement market.
How Can Suppliers in Devolved Nations Optimise Procurement Opportunities?
Breaking into public sector procurement can be tricky, especially if you don’t have much experience. That’s why you should always look for opportunities that could give you a boost, like call-off contracts, which streamline the procurement process.
For example: SMEs are perfectly placed to improve local economies, uplift local communities, and help devolved nations hit environmental and financial development targets.
All suppliers, big and small, can leverage social value and sustainability, which the devolved nations consider a high priority. Initiatives don’t need to have a wide reach to secure government contracts. Contracting authorities are looking for the degree of impact.
Your project that revitalises a run-down housing estate by increasing employment, boosting the local economy, improving access to education, repairing and beautifying the buildings, and greening parks, or any combination of these, is likely to be viewed more favourably than a project that cleans the streets in an entire suburban area – as noble as that initiative may be.
Digitisation is another priority – and area of opportunity – that is UK-wide. That means all areas where the Procurement Act holds sway, as well as devolved nations. Services in demand include data, cloud, and network security, as well as AI and automation implementation in operational systems, and predictive analytics.
Challenges Suppliers in Devolved Administrations Must Overcome
At present, there are no standardised rules or policies governing procurement frameworks. Instead, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England have their own procurement laws and frameworks, which don’t necessarily align with each other. It’s up to suppliers to adjust their tendering strategies to ensure cross-border compliance. A common framework could help standardise procurement practices across the devolved nations, reducing complexity for suppliers.
To improve national and local economies, each country strongly recommends using local suppliers. And so they should. However, it’s not always possible for buyers who publish cross-border contracts. There are many advantages to working with large enterprises that already operate in the targeted areas. This doesn’t align with national objectives to increase the presence of SMEs in the market.
Establishing impactful local social value initiatives can be challenging when large suppliers don’t have an ear to the ground. Buyers must balance local needs with the convenience and potentially lower costs of awarding contracts to large and established companies.
Procurement Best Practice and Guidance
Adhering to procurement best practices and guidance is crucial for contracting authorities within the UK government and devolved nations. These practices ensure that procurement processes are efficient, effective, and compliant with regulatory requirements.
Firstly, developing a clear procurement strategy is essential. This strategy should outline the procurement objectives and priorities, providing a roadmap for achieving them. Using framework agreements can significantly simplify the procurement process, reduce costs, and improve consistency in procurement practices.
Transparency and accountability are also vital. Contracting authorities should implement clear procedures for tracking spending and ensuring value for money. This transparency helps build trust and ensures that public funds are used responsibly.
Engaging with suppliers is another best practice. By understanding the needs and requirements of suppliers, contracting authorities can ensure that they procure goods and services that meet their specific needs. This engagement fosters a collaborative environment and can lead to more innovative and effective procurement solutions.
By following these best practices and guidance, contracting authorities can enhance their procurement processes, ensuring they are both efficient and effective while meeting the regulatory requirements of the UK government and devolved nations.
What Can Suppliers Do To Improve Their Chances of Winning UK Government Contracts?
Suppliers can develop several strategies to increase their share of the public sector procurement market.
An especially important step is to fully understand each devolved nation’s regional priorities. This needs a lot of in-depth research into their objectives, policies, and frameworks so you are familiar with their compliance rules and regulations and the most pressing needs in regional areas so you can develop relevant social value initiatives. Suppliers should also consider opportunities in rural affairs, where government policies focus on supporting rural communities and industries.
Look for and take advantage of early engagement events. Early engagement is one of the best ways to make a good first impression on buyers. Just remember that you’re representing your business, so no shenanigans. Instead, establish your reputation as an industry thought leader or impress them with your understanding of the field and your innovative and customisable solutions.
Ensure that each tender response contains a unique social value project; something that suits the nature of the contract and the buyer’s objectives in putting the contract out to tender. Focus on social, environmental, and economic needs – they’re a priority for each nation.
Think loosey-goosey. Stay calm and flexible in the face of changes or new challenges and always have a Plan B that ensures your solution always meets government priorities, objectives, and procurement regulations.
Flexible Marketing for Devolved Nations
Even following this advice will only get you so far in cross-border procurement. Marketers specialising in the B2G field can help you build a reputation for quality services, goods, and works and set you up as the go-to business in your industry.
Cadence Marketing has successfully operated in B2G marketing for years. Our experience enables us to spot and adapt to new trends and changing regulations, so your business is always at the forefront of your industry and, very importantly, always compliant with the rules and regulations that govern your field. There are tens of thousands of goods and services available through various procurement frameworks, offering extensive opportunities for suppliers.
Why not contact us now and talk to one of our experts about your marketing needs?
