Almost 30% of council staff believe there is insufficient training to back the launch of the new Procurement Act, research reveals.
A survey by the Commercial Services Group and Focaldata researchers found that 9.5% of procurement leaders in local government think the Act will be unsuccessful in its potential to ‘strengthen workforce capacity or capability’, whilst only 8.4% believe it would enhance workforce wellbeing.
Out of 500 survey respondents, nearly 50% are also concerned that a lack of resources could ‘hinder collaboration between authorities’, with over 30% identifying ‘regulatory compliance’ as a possible obstacle.
The Commercial Services Group argues that the survey demonstrates the ‘mix of cautious optimism and concern’ amongst councils in response to the Act, which seeks to boost economic development in line with the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) priorities.
Tarryn Kerr, MD of Procurement Services, Commercial Services Group, said: ‘Councils are under a lot of pressure, balancing regulatory changes, limited resources, and a growing demand for services. The new Procurement Act will be a powerful tool for positive change, but only if we get the support and strategic intent right.
‘That means stronger guidance from central government, and visible leadership from the top. The new act could unlock long-term value for local authorities and vastly improve outcomes for local communities, but we can’t treat it as just another tick-box exercise.’
If you are interested in learning more about local government procurement, then check out the Local Government Procurement Index by Tussell and LocalGov, which breaks down who local authorities spent their procurement budgets with in 2024.
