| Date |
|---|
| 27th February 2025 |
The way we support and enable our members to do their best work goes far beyond category management. We recognise that university procurement teams’ success is based not just on what they do, but how they do it. Our special projects support transformation for individual institutions and in the wider sector, from implementation of responsible procurement practices and the Procurement Act 2023, to analysis of value gained and effectiveness of team operations.
In conversation with Clare Riley
Clare Riley is the Special Projects Lead for SUPC. The focus of her role is currently on preparations for the Procurement Act. In this conversation she shares what’s happened so far and gives top tips for members with their own preparations.
What does the Procurement Act 2023 mean for SUPC and its members?
The new Act will impact SUPC and our members significantly, requiring change to culture, processes and systems. The people aspects of behaviour change, working practices and culture shift will be the most challenging.
What are the opportunities that this change presents for SUPC and its members?
Successful, strategic procurement activity depends on effective stakeholder engagement and communication, but this isn’t always easy for procurement teams. Responding to the Act provides the chance to lead a change to increased transparency and collaboration across your institution. Teams can position themselves more clearly as a solution for stakeholders’ own pressures. At SUPC we are taking the opportunity to realign our internal strategy with member pressures and the evolving support they need from us in this new environment.
How is SUPC preparing for the impacts on your work?
We are learning as we go, just like our members. We will develop transformed end-to- end processes and governance; run a culture change programme to support our people and set up appropriate systems. We’re starting by documenting where we are now and making strategic decisions about how we respond to the Act and what it means for our members
How is SUPC supporting members with preparations at their institutions?
There is a lot of information around about the new Act so we’re signposting members to useful sources, such as shared UKUPC webinars and information from our legal partner, Clyde & Co LLP. Since we are also working out the impact on our people, system and processes, we will have learnings of our own to share with our members as time goes on.
What are your top tips for members as they prepare for the Act to come into force?
Based on our own approach, I suggest:
- understand and document your current processes and systems. Make decisions about what you want to keep and stop doing – from this you can build processes that embed the new Act principles of integrity, transparency and planning into your culture and ways of working.
- identify the change and cultural shift that your organisation must go through. Change can feel uncomfortable so you need to understand what your people will find difficult and how to help them be more proactive.
- look at your pipeline and resources. Decide what you want to keep under the old regulations (perhaps by running mini- competitions and making direct awards) and which you will pioneer with new approaches after 24 February 2025.
