IPEC

Innovation-friendly procurement

The UK public sector spends £380bn a year in the private sector. UK local government procurement alone accounts for £60bn a year. This represents a huge market and a significant lever public authorities can use to create and shape markets.

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Our focus

Support Programme

Offering mission-led support for public authorities.

Thought Leadership

Conducting original research and evaluation.

Stakeholder Engagement

Activating and disseminating innovative procurement practices.

Latest from IPEC

The Art of the Possible in Public Procurement

The Art of the Possible unlocks the power of the Procurement Act 2023, empowering anyone engaged in making and executing public investment in new products and services to define creative & innovative strategies, while maintaining full compliance.

Unlock the Power of Procurement: IPEC First Annual Sentiment Analysis 2024

Procurement is a powerful lever for innovation, with the UK public sector spending £380bn annually and local government alone accounting for over £60bn. But how well is this potential being harnessed to drive innovation and create better public outcomes?

Procuring Innovation Playbook

The Procuring Innovation Playbook is your go-to guide for breaking down procurement myths and unlocking innovation opportunities. It provides practical solutions to overcome procurement barriers, explores innovation pilots, outlines diverse procurement routes, and offers insights on designing effective evaluation criteria—alongside successful case-studies and much more.

A practical guide to pre-market engagement

The incoming Procurement Act 2023 prioritises Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to simplify processes, boost innovation, and enhance supplier diversity. Created by IPEC and Gardiner & Theobald, this guide provides the tools to stay ahead, ensuring your procurement practices align with future-focused policy goals like net-zero transitions and mission-focused outcomes.

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Connect Places Summit 2025 / March 19, 2025

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📢 Innovation Procurement: What’s Holding It Back?

IPEC’s latest research reveals that public bodies are still facing major hurdles when it comes to adopting innovation-friendly procurement. A lack of understanding, complex rules, and a deeply embedded risk-averse culture are preventing progress. Many procurement teams struggle to navigate regulations while balancing the pressure to deliver value for money. Others are hesitant to take risks on new solutions, fearing scrutiny or failure.

These challenges are slowing down opportunities for innovation, but change is possible. By identifying and addressing these barriers, we can create a procurement environment that supports fresh thinking and better outcomes.

That’s why IPEC has launched its 2nd annual survey, to gather insights, track progress, and shape the right support for public sector buyers.

📝 Have your say and help unlock new possibilities. Complete the survey in just 10 minutes: https://lnkd.in/dbeeHRKH

{hashtag|#|Survey} {hashtag|#|IPEC} {hashtag|#|InnovationProcurement} {hashtag|#|Procurement} {hashtag|#|PublicSector}
{hashtag|#|LocalGov} {hashtag|#|Insights}

@Sam Markey @Rikesh Shah @Kayleigh Hadjimina MCIPR @[Olga Kuzmich](urn:li:person:6OhK_S2w8E) @James Cushing @Zain B. // *Connected Places Catapult @Dr Colin Birchenall @Theo Blackwell MBE @Colin Wood @[Sarah P.](urn:li:person:WI_wH_LflU) @Daniel Clarke @[Adrian Toland](urn:li:person:_jRQ8uzHD0) @Abdul Rahim @Dagmar Steffens @Ellie Wetz @Paula Claytonsmith @Eddie Copeland @Lisa Dale-Clough @Phyllis McArthur @[Steven Blantz (MCIPS)](urn:li:person:2Wnp_Rr4AZ) @Jonathan Lam BSc (Hons) LLB (Hons) MCIPS (Chartered) @💡Robert Cairns @[Steven Sinclair](urn:li:person:_qMF2RKImB) @Chanelle Busby (MCIPS) @Tina Holland @Robin Knowles @Liz St Louis @Peter Schofield @Robert Poole @Theo Chapple @Layla C. @Andy Reed @Darren Divall @Owen Wilce @Alison Diver MSc AIEMA @Jane Lamer @[Susan Lowe MSc MCIPS](urn:li:person:VFH_rQabJ1) @Carol Williams @Deborah Goodall MCIPS Chartered

📢 The IPEC Cohort programme is back for 2025/26!

Is your local authority facing procurement challenges that are holding back innovation? The IPEC Cohort Programme is designed to help councils like yours unlock new solutions through innovative procurement.

📽️ In our latest in-conversation interview, @David Wilkins, Head of Smart City, Digital & Innovation at *Westminster City Council, shares how Westminster approached procurement differently after joining the 2024/25 IPEC Cohort Programme. He reflects on the challenges they tackled, the support they received, and the impact on their work.

“The IPEC Programme encouraged us to engage procurement teams early on, helping to eliminate roadblocks and ensure our project was viable from the outset.” – @David Wilkins

What does the IPEC Programme offer?

✅ Practical workshops to refine procurement challenges and explore new approaches
✅ Guidance from procurement specialists who understand the local government landscape
✅ A peer network of councils working through similar challenges
✅ Proven tools and strategies to embed innovative procurement in your organisation

Join the 2025/26 programme and take a fresh approach to solving complex local challenges.

📅 Applications close on 7 March.
🔗 Apply now or find out more: https://lnkd.in/db7bZmtg

{hashtag|#|IPECCohort} {hashtag|#|InnovationChallenge} {hashtag|#|ChallengeStatement} {hashtag|#|Procurement}
{hashtag|#|Innovation} {hashtag|#|LocalGov} {hashtag|#|LocalAuthorities}

@Sam Markey @Rikesh Shah @Kayleigh Hadjimina MCIPR @[Olga Kuzmich](urn:li:person:6OhK_S2w8E) @James Cushing @Rachel Capstick // *Connected Places Catapult @Laura Brightwell Peters @Becky Chapman @Dr Colin Birchenall @Theo Blackwell MBE @Colin Wood @[Sarah P.](urn:li:person:WI_wH_LflU) @Daniel Clarke @[Adrian Toland](urn:li:person:_jRQ8uzHD0) @Abdul Rahim @Dagmar Steffens @Ellie Wetz @Paula Claytonsmith @Eddie Copeland @Lisa Dale-Clough @Phyllis McArthur @[Steven Blantz (MCIPS)](urn:li:person:2Wnp_Rr4AZ) @[Steven Sinclair](urn:li:person:_qMF2RKImB) @Chanelle Busby (MCIPS) @Tina Holland @Robin Knowles @Liz St Louis @Peter Schofield @Robert Poole @Theo Chapple @Andy Reed @Darren Divall @Owen Wilce @Alison Diver MSc AIEMA @Carol Williams @Deborah Goodall MCIPS Chartered

🎙️ In Conversation with Fumi Kitagawa

In our latest interview, Professor @Fumi Kitagawa, a leading expert in regional economic development at the *City-REDI, University of Birmingham, shares insights into her career, international experience, and the transformative role of public procurement of innovation.

💡 In this insightful discussion, Professor Kitagawa shares:
◾ How public procurement of innovation can drive regional economic growth
◾ The role of anchor institutions in supporting local economies
◾ Challenges and opportunities ahead of the new Procurement Act

📖 Read the full interview on our website to explore these topics in depth: https://lnkd.in/dZ6zFgHB

📃 To engage with Fumi’s research as part of IPEC Research, follow the link in the comments.

{hashtag|#|IPECResearch} {hashtag|#|AnchorInstitutions} {hashtag|#|Impact} {hashtag|#|Procurment} {hashtag|#|Innovation} {hashtag|#|RegionalGrowth}

@Sam Markey @Rikesh Shah @Malcolm Harbour CBE @Ben Hawes @Nick Woodward @Kayleigh Hadjimina MCIPR @[Olga Kuzmich](urn:li:person:6OhK_S2w8E) // *Manchester Institute Of Innovation Research @Annum Rafique @Matt Ziembla @Ian Heptinstall @[Katherine Sugar](urn:li:person:_4rdIWdZrv) @Carlos López-Gómez @Xinyue Xue @Raquel Ortega-Argilés @Oishee Kundu @Luis D. Torres @Alice Moore, PhD @[Liz Ainge](urn:li:person:p_-Povconq) @Robin Polding @Pelle Berkhout @Dr Colin Birchenall @Theo Blackwell MBE @Daniel Clarke @Dagmar Steffens @[Steven Sinclair](urn:li:person:_qMF2RKImB) @Tina Holland @Eddie Copeland @Abdul Rahim

A practical guide to pre-market engagement

The incoming Procurement Act 2023 prioritises Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to simplify processes, boost innovation, and enhance supplier diversity. Created by IPEC and Gardiner & Theobald, this guide provides the...

Sentiment Analysis

Procurement is a powerful lever for innovation, with the UK public sector spending £380bn annually and local government alone accounting for over £60bn. But how well is this potential being...