The Procurement Act 2023 which took effect on February 24, 2025 is a significant shift in public sector contracting. The implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 has transformed the way of public sector contracting. The goals of this reform are to increase the chances for community driven projects and social entrepreneurs, simplify the bidding process and increase the transparency. As the Act aims to reduce the administrative burdens and to accord the social value the greatest weight, it is a great opportunity for companies like Co-Creative Connection (CCC) to be able to further impact our communities.
How the Procurement Act is Good for Social Enterprises and the Community
The National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) of the government has identified the important position of SMEs as well as voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) in the enhancement of economic development. The new Act ensures that public spending on procurement is directed towards supporting the growth of these areas and the inclusion of these areas as priority areas for spending cannot be overlooked.
Here’s how this positively impacts social value and community-driven projects:
1. More Accessible and Flexible Bidding Processes
In the past, smaller businesses often couldn't compete for state contracts because the procurement process was too complicated and rigid. The new streamlined framework lowers these barriers by introducing:
A central digital platform to simplify registrations, submissions, and contract management.
More flexible frameworks, allowing new suppliers to join at designated points, ensuring a fairer and more competitive process.
As a result, more community organisations and social entrepreneurs, like Co-Creative Connection, are able to obtain funds for impactful initiatives that enhance their communities.
2. Faster Payments to Support Sustainability
The pledge to extend contracts with 30-day payment terms is a significant victory for social entrepreneurs. Smaller businesses have long struggled with delayed payments, which makes it hard to maintain operations and make plans for growth. With this modification, social entrepreneurs may concentrate on providing value to the community without worrying about their financial situation.
3. Increased Transparency and Accountability
The Act introduces mandatory publication of key contract details on the Central Digital Platform (CDP). This includes:
Visibility of all public procurement opportunities.
Supplier engagement at various project stages.
Annual performance evaluations for contracts exceeding £5 million, ensuring delivery of promised social value.
This level of transparency ensures that funding is allocated to projects that serve communities, giving organisations like CCC the opportunity to showcase our impact and win contracts based on proven results.
4. Social Value at the Heart of Public Spending
The NPPS emphasises that public sector procurement should create tangible social benefits, meaning projects that contribute to community well-being, employment, and local engagement are prioritised.
For CCC, this aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire, connect, contribute to community well-being,guided by values of inclusivity, creativity, collaboration,and local engagement.
Our community mural projects, public art initiatives, and creative workshops are designed to foster inclusivity, enhance public spaces, and empower residents. With this new framework, we can further advocate for our work to be recognised as essential to social value creation.
How CCC Can Help You Leverage the Procurement Act
At Co-Creative Connection, we believe in the power of art and creativity to transform communities. With the new Procurement Act in place, organisations looking to incorporate social value into their projects can collaborate with us in the following ways:
1. Partnering on Public Sector Tenders
With our experience in delivering large-scale, community-driven art projects, we can help local councils, housing associations, and public bodies meet their social value commitments while creating impactful, visually inspiring public spaces.
2. Consultation and Co-Design Services
Our expertise in engaging communities in co-creation processes means we can work alongside partners to design and implement projects that reflect local needs and aspirations - a key component in the new procurement guidelines.
3. Helping Businesses Meet Social Value Requirements
Businesses vying for public contracts can improve their bids by include community-focused projects, since social value is now a crucial part of public procurement. In order to ensure compliance with the new Act and have a significant impact, CCC provides possibilities to include innovative, community-led projects into corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
Looking Ahead
The Procurement Act 2023 is a landmark shift towards a more inclusive, socially responsible public sector procurement system. This change guarantees that more public spending directly helps local communities by making it easier to secure contracts for social businesses, community organisations, and SMEs.
At Co-Creative Connection, we're excited about the possibilities this new framework brings. If you’re looking to collaborate on community-driven projects that align with the new social value requirements, let’s connect! By working together, we can transform public funds into meaningful community impact.
Want to learn more? Reach out to us to explore how we can work together under the new Procurement Act!
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