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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Driving innovation through procurement 🚀

Public sector professionals, are you making the most of procurement to drive innovation?

The Innovation Procurement Support Tool is here to help you navigate procurement routes with confidence! Whether you’re a transport manager, service owner, or local planner, this tool is designed to:

✅ Demystify procurement with clear guidance
✅ Reduce barriers to innovation by making processes easier
✅ Showcase best practices through case studies

With the Procurement Act 2023 introducing greater flexibility and transparency, now is the time to rethink how innovation is procured.

Start making procurement work for you today! 👇
🔗 https://lnkd.in/dataQCWu

{hashtag|#|PublicSectorInnovation} {hashtag|#|Procurement} {hashtag|#|Innovation} {hashtag|#|SmartProcurement} {hashtag|#|PublicSector}

@Rikesh Shah @Kayleigh Hadjimina MCIPR @James Cushing @Rachel Capstick @Jack Bebbington @Trusha Oza @[Olga Kuzmich](urn:li:person:6OhK_S2w8E) @Mike Pittman @Heather Currie @[Helena Tryphonides](urn:li:person:TrgDVYH_nO) @Pete Broadbent @Aisling Conlon @Sheila Devine @Elvira Uyarra @Fumi Kitagawa @An Schrijvers @Denys Nazarenko @Waleed Ahmed @[Paul Corcoran](urn:li:person:db6wTOj_Nn) @Sophie Moule @Shailee H. @Dr Colin Birchenall @Theo Blackwell MBE @Colin Wood @[Sarah P.](urn:li:person:WI_wH_LflU) @Daniel Clarke @Abdul Rahim @Dagmar Steffens @Paula Claytonsmith @Eddie Copeland

📢 New in IPEC Research: How government buyers influence firm productivity

Public procurement is a £385 billion economic force in the UK, shaping markets, innovation, and social value. But how does it impact firm productivity? Our latest research brief by @[Pei-Yu Yuan](urn:li:person:N-0VHI3_8d), @Raquel Ortega-Argilés, and @Elvira Uyarra, *The University of Manchester explores the relationship between government contracts and business performance, offering key insights for firms and policymakers.

💡 Key Findings:
◾ Supplier Distribution: Local governments engage the most suppliers, but central government’s supplier base is growing the fastest.
◾ Procurement & Productivity: Firms with either low or high government contract income see greater productivity gains.
◾ Government Buyer Influence: Suppliers to central government and the NHS experience stronger productivity growth than those serving only local government.

📘 Download the full research brief here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dP2PV63q

{hashtag|#|PublicProcurement} {hashtag|#|FirmProductivity} {hashtag|#|EconomicGrowth} {hashtag|#|Innovation} {hashtag|#|IPECResearch} {hashtag|#|GovernmentContracts}

@Rikesh Shah @Malcolm Harbour CBE @Ben Hawes @Nick Woodward @Kayleigh Hadjimina MCIPR @[Olga Kuzmich](urn:li:person:6OhK_S2w8E) // @Matt Ziembla *Manchester Institute Of Innovation Research @Annum Rafique @Ian Heptinstall @Fumi Kitagawa @Ian Brotherston @[Katherine Sugar](urn:li:person:_4rdIWdZrv) @Carlos López-Gómez @Xinyue Xue @Oishee Kundu @Luis D. Torres @Alice Moore, PhD @Robin Polding @Pelle Berkhout @Tina Holland @[Karen Woolley LL.B (Hons)](urn:li:person:w_6BWb4Rra) @Dr Rebecca Rees @Rebecca Riley @[Conrad Parke](urn:li:person:vrEhG4EvF_)

🚀 Innovation-friendly procurement is key to delivering public sector impact

Spring Statement presented this week reinforced the Government’s focus on economic growth, infrastructure, and procurement. With the public sector spending £400bn+ annually on third-party suppliers, there’s a huge opportunity to turn procurement into a catalyst for innovation rather than a barrier.

At IPEC, we believe that procurement has the power to unlock new value but it requires the right mindset, culture, and processes. That’s why we’re committed to helping public sector teams embrace experimentation, innovation, and new ways of thinking.

In a timely discussion, our Head of IPEC, @Rikesh Shah, recently joined *Freewheeling: Moving Forward Faster Podcast hosted by @Thomas Ableman to explore:
🔹 How procurement can drive innovation and deliver better public outcomes
🔹 The role of suppliers in bringing fresh ideas into the public sector
🔹 Why culture and change management are crucial for success
🔹 Real examples of public sector organisations using procurement to drive innovation
🔹 The new Procurement Act 2023 and how it fosters market innovation with pre-market engagement & the Competitive Flexible Procedure

With the Procurement Act now in force, it’s more important than ever to rethink how the public sector buys and innovates.

🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/dpP2pJAz

{hashtag|#|SpringStatement} {hashtag|#|ProcurementAct} {hashtag|#|CultureChange} {hashtag|#|PreMarketEngagement} {hashtag|#|Innovation} {hashtag|#|Procurement}

@Sam Markey @Malcolm Harbour CBE @Ben Hawes @Nick Woodward @Nick Talbot @Kayleigh Hadjimina MCIPR @James Cushing @Jack Bebbington @[Olga Kuzmich](urn:li:person:6OhK_S2w8E) // @Elvira Uyarra @Fumi Kitagawa @An Schrijvers @Denys Nazarenko @Waleed Ahmed @[Paul Corcoran](urn:li:person:db6wTOj_Nn) @Sophie Moule @Shailee H. @Dr Colin Birchenall @Theo Blackwell MBE @Colin Wood @[Sarah P.](urn:li:person:WI_wH_LflU) @Daniel Clarke @Abdul Rahim @Dagmar Steffens @Paula Claytonsmith @Eddie Copeland @Theo Chapple @Adam S. @[Steven Sinclair](urn:li:person:_qMF2RKImB) @Steven Wilding @Flora McFarlane @Sarah Slate @Ben Paxton @Keri Landau @Tina Holland @Ian Brotherston @Dr Rebecca Rees

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...