We spend around £500 million to £600 million per year on goods, works and services - from social care, utilities, waste, finance, construction and highways provisions, catering, cleaning and office supplies.
Our commercial team:
- Manages procurement and contract management
- Engages with providers to select, award and manage agreements
- Uses national buying power and category expertise to achieve value for money
- Ensures the council delivers quality services and outcomes for local people
Who we work with
We collaborate with a wide range of partners, including:
- Local authorities (district/borough councils and regional partners)
- The NHS
- Blue light
- Education providers
- The Local Government Association (LGA) - see the
- Central government
We also have regard to the National Procurement Strategy, which sets priorities for leadership, behaving commercially, and delivering community benefits.
The Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 came into effect on 24 February 2025 and introduced changes to the way public procurement is managed across the UK.
Suppliers can prepare by accessing government support resources:
- Knowledge drops - short online sessions explaining the act and key timelines
- Supplier short guide - a plain English overview
- Factsheet - answers to common questions for buyers and suppliers
- Supplier information pack - detailed instructions for registering and using the new system