The demise of the British Chemical Industry?

 I do hope not, but it is worrying.

Special report from Ed Conway of Sky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ3hT8tqZgo

Public Procurement Training in 2026

 Well, we are all back at work and remembering what we used to do in 2025.

I hope.

In my case it is delivering training. And the first open course is imminent - Introduction to Public Procurement for PASS Procurement at BIP Solutions.

So, if you want to know about public procurement as either a buyer or supplier, or want a reminder, or just to usefully spend those budget pennies left down the back of the sofa before end of March....

The course is online 27th January 2026 - and full details are here.

There are more courses on the programme (not all delivered by me) if that date does not work for you.  More details as we get nearer each one.

Those new Public Procurement Thresholds

 Here are those new Threshold values I mentioned earlier.  They apply from 1 January 2026  and will not change for 2 years.

The values are lower in both GBP and EUR, despite global inflation being in the range of 3% to 5% (obviously significantly different in any individual country).  I have to say that I am not sure what is happening here...

The Thresholds are denominated in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) which are based on a basket of currencies including Sterling and EUR (and USD, Yen and Yuan).  So they should not change a lot.  And I cannot see whether the underlying values in SDR have changed, nor why they have not been adapted to take account of inflation.

Anyway, the new (and old) values for the UK are below.

Win more contracts - understanding the Procurement Act 2023 - 4th December 2025

 Last open course for 2025 (for me) is online on Wednesday 4th December 2025.

Full details are here.

These courses have been very popular, and so we shall run them again in 2026, but not until February at the earliest.  And there will probably be a run of other courses as well, but not until the Spring.

So if you are interested, hope to see you online.

New Public Procurement Thresholds from 1 January 2026

 And they are lower than at moment. (just a bit)

Some people says this means more competition as more contracts will be subject to the threshold and there require competition.

WELL, given that the PA2023 increases the opportunities for avoiding competition the lowering of the threshold is only a marginal step back in the direction of competion.

 

And of course the thresholds are not actually set by the UK government but the WTO GPA.

 

Given the significant inflation over the past few years this is a significant lowering of (most of) the thresholds.  I'll be interested in the response.  I suspect many contracting authorities actually would have preferred a significant increase.

Public Procurement consultation - closes 5th September 2025

 Last chance to have your input on future changes to UK Public Procurement - consultation closes 5pm on Friday 5th Sept 2025.

Now, I'm sure you have already made your input - but just in case...

The link is here.

Summer's gone (wake up Boo!) - The Procurement Act in Practice for Suppliers 9th September 2025

 Gosh, it's 2nd September already. Summer's not quite gone, but it is getting ready for back to school...

And so I assume lots of people are now keen to stop reading that summer blockbuster on the beach and start thinking again about the Procurement Act 2023.

No?

Well if you are then, you might want to come along for our first Procurement Act in Practice for Suppliers next Tuesday 9th September at PASS Procurement.

Link here - https://www.passprocurement.co.uk/event/procurement-act-in-practice-for-suppliers/

And if you are old enough to get the reference, the Boo Radleys are here