Over half (53.1%) of senior housing sector employees reported gaps in the training and resources available to support implementation of the new Procurement Act which came into force in February.
A new survey commissioned by Commercial Services Group, a provider of public sector procurement services, reveals that respondents from the industry have mixed feelings on the effectiveness of the act to help achieve the objectives of the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS). While the potential of the new Act is recognised, additional support is needed to ensure the benefits are felt.
Over half (53.1%) of respondents believe the act will significantly strengthen workforce capacity, however, nearly two thirds (59.4%) voiced concern about meeting new transparency regulations, and almost half (46.9%) said limited resource capacity will be their biggest challenge in delivering the Act’s requirements. With one of the central aims of the Act to drive economic development, this could limit organisation’s ability to deliver on this.
Even though half of respondents also identifying financial constraints as one of their biggest challenges, over a third (37.5%) believe the Act will have little to no impact on cost efficiencies and value for money in procurement activities.
More broadly, confidence in the direction of the new Act remains relatively high with more than half (56%) of believing it will help to deliver better social and economic value to local communities.
This legislation also targets supporting environmental goals. However, despite resources being available to secure energy resilience and achieve return on investment, perceptions remain a barrier. 1 in 4 (25%) of respondents believe it will only have a minor impact on net zero and sustainability, another key challenge in the industry.
Tarryn Kerr, MD of Procurement Services, Commercial Services Group, said: “With housing shortages, and increasing supply chain pressures presenting an ongoing concern across the UK, it’s more important than ever that the housing sector can work effectively and efficiently. Despite many believing that workforce capacity will be improved by the Act, there is a feeling of hesitancy over transparency requirements and the resources and training required to meet the objectives.”
Across other industries, readiness levels still vary. While local government appears relatively well prepared, confidence drops significantly in the healthcare sector, suggesting an uneven landscape across public services.
Tarryn added: “More can be done to support experts from across this industry with the introduction of the Act, effective frameworks and tools to support compliant procurement is key. Organisations using frameworks, such as those provided by Procurement Services, can save time and money by removing the need to run a full competitive tender process. This will be essential for its adoption into critical supply chain activities, helping to unlock value and support local communities for many years to come.”
Commercial Services Group is a public sector-owned organisation that reinvests every penny back into the communities it serves. Supporting over 22,000 organisations and thousands of schools across the UK, its services span procurement, HR, energy management, recruitment, special educational needs and disability (SEND) support, legal services, school supplies, and school improvement.
To find out more, visit www.commercialservices.org.uk
