The art of the possible

Harness the power of the Procurement Act 2023 to define creative & innovative strategies.

The Art of the Possible unlocks the power of the Procurement Act 2023, empowering anyone engaged in making and executing public investment in new products and services to define creative & innovative strategies, while maintaining full compliance

With approximately £300bn a year being spent on UK public procurement, public sector organisations have an indispensable role in fostering innovation and supporting ambitious small businesses.

Unlock transformative power

  • Deploy procurement tools that help attract innovative suppliers of all sizes & build new
    growth hubs.
  • Take advantage of the heightened awareness of the rule changes, facilitated by Government supported training, to ignite an innovation culture within your organisation
  • Deploy procurement tools that help attract innovative suppliers of all sizes & build new
    growth hubs.

Learn how Barnardo’s improved outcomes for children by developing innovative partnerships described as a “learning partnership rather than a traditional commissioner – provider relationship”.

Leverage new rules as enablers

  • Encourage engagement with newer and more diverse solutions that embed local priorities in your procurement activities
  • Learn how linking procurement with strategic planning can integrate social value, boost local economies and provide better support for startups, small and medium-sized businesses.
  • Define challenging goals to energise suppliers and embed innovative thinking in your organisation.

HS2’s Innovation Accelerator assisted SMEs navigate preferred procurement platforms & supply chain frameworks, resulting in 50% securing procurement.

Exploit the competitive flexible procedure

  • Achieve greater flexibility by implementing the light touch contract regime.
  • Discover “The Competitive Flexible Procedure”, that encourages contract awards to be made based on the “most advantageous tender”
  • Aquire funding for multi-staged procurement processes. Flowing from assessment of concepts, through development - to a final contract offer.

Transport for London (TfL) implemented the Innovative Partnership Procedure, demonstrating an effective model for boosting the local economy through innovation in public procurement.

Meet the experts

The report is co-authored by an expert team with experience in innovative legal and procurement processes and was unveiled at a House of Lords reception

Malcolm Harbour CBE

Ex-MEP
West Midlands

Served as MEP for the West Midlands for 3 Parliamentary terms 1999 - 2014. In 2008, he was Rapporteur for the first...

Julian Blake

Specialist public benefit lawyer
Stone King LLP

Julian co-authored “The Art of the Possible in Public Procurement” in 2016, to highlight the need...

Rebecca Rees

Partner / Head of Public Procurement
Trowers & Hamlins.

Rebecca Rees is a partner and Head of Public Procurement at the international law firm, Trowers & Hamlins...

Researchers

Oishee Kundu

Research Associate
University of Bath

Research Associate at the University of Bath, specialises in technology adoption and public procurement's role in innovation.

Bin Guan

Urbanist
Connected Places Catapult

Bin Guan, an urbanist at Connected Places Catapult, bringsa town planning background and extensive experience...

Ghaith Nassar

Service designer
Connected Places Catapult

Ghaith Nassar is a service designer and researcher with the Human Connected Design team at Connected Places Catapult.

The Art of the Possible is endorsed by

Procurement in the public sector is often seen as a barrier to achieving best value rather than a path towards it. This report provides both the inspiration and the information to enable you to radically revise the way you purchase

Councillor Donald Alexander
Bristol City Council

Who is the report for?

The aim of this report is to help anyone engaged in making and executing public investment in new products and services fully aware of the potential for change offered by the new legislation.