Consultation on changes to Public Procurement

The Procurement Act 2023 has been in place since 24th February 2025.  The government is now starting a consultation on proposed changes.  These are mostly fairly minor, and are about extending the requirements placed on Central government departments to cover all contracting authorities (and a bit more clarification on SMEs and Social Value).

The deadline for responses is 5th September 2025, so you have a couple of months to respond (but don't forget).  The link is here .

My first thoughts are (as above) nothing to significant.  But I'll have a think and share my responses when I submit them.

Always interested in hearing/reading other people's thoughts too.

25 not out

Today PAWA Consulting Ltd completes the 25th year of operation.  The business has been running slightly longer, having started as Paul Andrew Wright Associates 1st July 1998.

So, still here. And happily planning on being so for the foreseeable future.  

Which is good, as we have some significant changes to come in our 26th year of operations - details to follow.

But in the meantime, thanks to all of the clients, delegates, colleagues, friends, people I met (Red Dwarf reference if you are wondering).  Hope to see you all again. 
 

Assessing the Procurement Act 2023 - 24th July 2025 - Free conference

 

I am delighted to be contributing to an online conference on the Procurement Act 2023 on Thursday 24th July 2025.

It is being organised by the Supply Chain Sustainability School, delivered by Action Sustainability.

I am doing a brief into the PA2023, before we have 3 expert presentations.  Then there will be questions to the panel.

Even better (for you) it is free to attend.

Full sign up details are here.

I'm pleased to say that we already have a considerable audience signed up.  Hope to see  there.

Tariffs again...

 Well, the transatlantic tariffs situation is still not clear.  At the time of writing it seems that there will be a 50% tariff imposed on EU goods by the USA from 1 July.  But this deadline has already been postponed once, and maybe again.  And the size of the tariff may change.  And then again, the courts have decided that the current tariffs should are not permissible in law and if the US government wishes to apply then it has to be done by Congress, and not by the Executive claiming (rather ridiculously*) an economic emergency.

I do not pretend to know what is going to happen, but as Procurement and Supply Chain professionals we should take this chance to shine within our own organisations.  This period of high volatility will create both challenges and opportunities.

We need to be constantly reviewing the situation and developing (then implementing) appropriate plans.

Obviously we have to consider what it will mean if there are tariffs or reciprocal tariffs in our supply chains.  We need to check what these are (or might be) and then consider our supplier's approach is going to be.  Some will take this as an opportunity to raise prices to the full extent of tariff rate (even if there is a draw back arrangement, or if tariffs only apply to half of the product...).  Others (dare I say more sensible) will see this as an opportunity to have more dialogue with their customers ("we don't know any more than you do, but we have to work together...").

But don't forget the opportunities that might arise from displacement effects - Chinese and EU goods unable to win market space in the USA because of high tariffs will look to find other customers.  This might lead to price reductions as they seek to gain space in currently well served markets.

Whether we want to take advantage of that (risking existing relationships for a possibly temporary advantage) is of course the sort of thing we ought to be discussing internally and developing appropriate strategies.

Good luck

* The Global Financial Crisis of 2008/9 and Covid-19 in 2020 were obvious economic emergencies.  The USA in 2025 was the fastest growing major economy, had actually caught up the growth trend line from before Covid, had 4% unemployment (technically full employment) and 2.5% inflation (just 0.5% above target) - Clearly not an emergency, though of course governments are free to adopt whatever policies they wish following due process.

The Procurement Act in Practice for Suppliers - PASS Procurement 5th June 2025

I am running a training event for PASS Procurement of BIP Solutions on Thursday 5th June 2025 that focuses on what the Procurement Act 2023 means for Suppliers.

It is quite understandable that businesses are not aware of all the possibilities and challenges of new regulation, and I hope to be able to guide you through the new processes in a way that helps you to win more public sector business.

The course is online and full details are available at the link here.

If you cannot make 5th June there is another running on 8th July, but with my colleague Gemma rather than me.  You may, of course, prefer that!

Hope to see you there

What Engineers need to know about Contracts - live and in person in Rugby 8-9 July 2025

 After a short break due to the Covid19 pandemic (5 years?) we are returning to running this course face to fact in Rugby for a full 2 days.

Will be a great opportunity to network and of course to interrogate me about what I meant.

Hope to see you there.

Full details here

Just to confirm:  this is going ahead and we are getting pretty full for numbers - so if you are interested, best to book now.

Understanding and Implementing the Procurement Act 2023 - 4th June 2025

 

I am delighted to be starting a new series of courses with GovPD, starting 4th June 2025 with Understanding and Implementing the Procurement Act 2023.

The course is online and (as usual with me) will have lots of opportunity for delegates to interact and ask questions.  

This first running is just about sold out but we are going to be running it more times in 2025/6, with the next date on 5th August 2025.

Full details of the course are here.  Hope to see you there.

Always look on the bright side of tariffs - part 2

 Well, at least with a tariff things are merely (a lot) more expensive.  It may lead to some suppliers dropping out of the market, and some products and services no longer being available....  but in theory they just add cost, inconvenience and drive inflation.

A bigger concern, which I think has been there but just not really a major focus of attention, is that China is not only a key manufacturer but a key source of raw materials.  Which they have tight control on.  Through the belt and road initiative they also exert control on some alternative sources of supply.

A particular choke point may be on rare earth metals (physicists joke that they are not rare, not earth and not even metals... but ignore us).

Controlling access to these essential elements used in advanced materials has long been a key Chinese economic strategy - and now they may just turn off the supply to the USA.  And the EU.

Not being able to get things at any price is a bigger problem than higher prices.

A couple of articles here and here.

Good luck out there.

Always look on the bright side of tariffs - part one

 WELL, we are still in uncertain times.  Tariffs are being introduced, reduced, raised, paused, exempted on what feels like a daily basis.

So, from a Procurement & Supply Chain point of view let's take the positives - our role in the organisation is (currently) critical to success  - maybe even to survival.  So, for once in our lives we are on the main stage (or at the very least, we should be - it may not be happening for you).

And because of the complex nature of some of these tariffs (see below) it is vitally important that we understand the origins and structure of our supply chains.  So, we should be supported in those investigations rather than being told just to get a shipment for Tuesday...

Being less flippant and exaggerated, it is a good reminder of the Covid-19 lesson that unless we really understand our supply chains we are not aware of the risks and opportunities within it.

Good hunting.

Tariffs - wow!

 The world has changed.  It is not the same is it was on 31st March 2025.

I'm not in a position to tell you what to do in response, apart from to suggest that doing nothing is not an option.

The good news for Procurement and Supply Chain professionals is that our organisations now need us, and need us to be on top of our game.

Even if you management has not requested you to do so, I recommend you look hard at your existing supply chains and review your Risk Registers.  Consider what might change and what your options are (if you have any).

The situation is likely to remain fluid for quite some time.  Good luck!

Delivering Against the new NPPS - 27TH March 2025

 Well the new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) is here.

And 3/5ths of it seem pretty simple to reconcile with procurement.  The other 2/5?

Well that is why you need to come along to PASS Procurement's course on Delivering Against the new NPPS = 27th March 2025 online.  Full details here.

hope to see you there.

What Engineers need to know about Contracts - IChemE online 20/21/22 October 2025 pm to be rescheduled

(We have rescheduled the online event from April 2025)

The ever popular What Engineers Need to know about Contracts course is being run twice by IChemE this year - once online in October 2025, and once face to face in July 2025.

The face to face event is of course limited in numbers, and is getting pretty full already so if you want a couple of days in Rugby better get booking.

The online course is pretty much the same content but 3 half days rather than 2 full days, and of course it is much easier to accommodate any number of delegates.

Full details of the courses are available here.

Hope to see you on one or the other (honestly no need to book both...)

(BTW this is not the highly regarded course that goes into details of the IChemE suite of model contracts, though we do mention them).

National Procurement Policy Statement - NPPS

 The new National Procurement Policy Statement has been published and I will be briefly discussing it at The Procurement Act Live! at the NEC on Thursday 27th February 2025.

Helpfully the NPPS was published about an hour after I had submitted my presentation for formatting (I'm not bitter...) but at least I have been able to update it appropriately.

The key element as I seem them are...

Kickstart Economic Growth

    Opportunities for SMEs (PPN 001 (2025)

    High quality jobs

    Encouraging Innovation

Make Britain a Green Energy superpower

    Accelerating to NetZero

Take back our streets

Break down barriers to opportunity

    Skills gaps

    Removing barriers to entry for young people and under represented groups

Build a NHS fit for the future

The NPPS is of course not QUITE National, as Scotland is not taking part in the PA2023 (yet), and Wales and Northern Ireland have some devolved procurement arrangements.  But nice to know the priorities.

Of the 5 elements I am not convinced that 2 really fit into Procurement Policy (I'm all in favour of taking back our streets, but is this a procurement priority?  And likewise I am a strong believer in [and patient of] the NHS, but surely that point is a government priority not a procurement priority (what is, say, MOD procurement [which is in the news at the moment] going to do to deliver improvements in the NHS?).  Those seem more like government priorities rather than procurement issues.

Of the 3 remaining, they all seem appropriate - but largely reminiscent of the original NPPS from June 2021 under a different administration.

    - Creating new businesses, new jobs and new skills in the UK

    - Tackling climate change and reducing waste 

    - Improving supplier diversity, innovation and resilience.

But that is not a bad thing as these are key challenges and knotty problems.

Hope to see you at NEC to discuss them in more detail (at the seminar or on the BIP Solutions stand)

Happy Procurement Act 2025 Go-Live Day

 Happy Procurement Act 2025 Go-Live Day to all those who celebrate....  on Monday 24th February 2025.

Supplier registrations on the new Central Digital Platform go live now (Monday) though I think I might leave it a day or two to avoid the rush.

You might even wait until after you have visited The Procurement Act Live at the NEC on Thursday 27th Feb 2025 - where I shall be presenting 5 short seminars but more importantly there will be speakers from Cabinet Office and loads of stalls, stands and seminars.

Details are here

Hope to see you there

CIPS - open skills course - Developing Contractual Agreements 3rd March 2025

 I am running the CIPS course on Developing Contractual Agreements online on 3rd March.

Assumes no prior knowledge and is relevant to both Public and Private Sector.  At the time of writing all the delegates are from the UK, but it is also applicable to people in other countries.

Hope to see you there.

Full details are here.

Online Open course - CIPS Procurement Fundamentals 13th Jan 2025

Happy New Year.  

The end of year break has gone past quickly and we are now quickly into the thick of courses and events.  Still looking forward to the Procurement Act 2023 going live on 24th February 2025.

I shall be running Procurement Fundamentals online on 13th January 2025 for CIPS.  A one day course, giving you (guess what?) the fundamentals of procurement (for both public and private sectors, services and manufacturing).

Hope you will join us.

full details here.