The Art of the Possible: The Procurement Act 2023

1. Overview

The Procurement Act 2023, came into force in October 2024. Most public services are continuing to work hard to understand how this will affect local procurement practices and how we can use the new regulations to purchase and arrange the best services for local people and communities.

In this webinar, we welcome two speakers who will offer their experiences and insights into the flexibilities available to us via the new Procurement Act. This includes the conditions that can create the ability for public services to create innovation and work collaboratively with providers as strategic partners.

Julian Blake – Social Enterprise & Business; Charity; and Public Services, Stone King

A specialist public benefit lawyer for over 35 years, Julian focusses on: Public Service Commissioning, especially collaborative pathways & models; Social Enterprise & Co-operatives; Charity Law; Procurement & Subsidy Control; Innovation & Community Partnerships; Alliance & Relational Contracts; Social Finance & Impact Investment; Social & Public Value; Education; Health & Social Care; & Renewable Energy.

He is the co-author of “The Art of the Possible in Public Procurement” (2016) & “The Art of the Possible in Public Procurement: New Horizons for Empowering Innovation” (2024) & a member of the VCSE Crown Commissioner’s Advisory Panel to Government. He works with E3M promoting the social enterprise model in public services, contributing to the “Partnership to Procurement Toolkit” & the publication: “Vitalising Purpose: the Power of the Social Enterprise Difference in Public Services”.

Liz Perfect, Practice Consultant, Barnsley Council

Drawing on 25 years experience in commissioning and 5 years as a provider, Liz will provide insights into what she has observed and practiced.

2. Webinar format

The webinar will be delivered online via Microsoft Teams and will feature a blend of presentations and smaller group discussions.

3. Agenda

Session 1: The Art of the Possible – Public Service Commissioning

Speaker – Julian Blake – Stone King

Julian will discuss collaborative, stewardship, pathways and models in public service commissioning and the obstacles derived from standard commercialised market-purchasing in procurement and transactional contracting. He will discuss the implications of the Procurement Act 2023, highlighting positive developments in relation to the National Procurement Policy Statement and “mission-driven procurement”. Q&A and breakout discussion.

Session 2: Commissioning Together: Collaboration and Innovation

Speaker: Liz Perfect -Barnsley Council

Liz will take you on her journey of developing innovation within a legal compliant framework and explore the value of collaborating with partners (often referred to as providers) as the subject matter experts. The Leicestershire Children’s Innovation Partnership will be used as a case study to demonstrate how to see the procurement regulations as an enabler rather than a barrier in creating innovation. Liz will also share her insights as a ‘Provider’ developing strategic Partnerships with Local Authorities to co-design, co-develop and co-deliver services. Q&A and breakout discussion

4. Date

Tuesday 23^rd September; 14:00-16:00

5. Bookings

This free and exclusive event is offered to our Academic Partners and the accredited alumni of the IPC Certificates in Commissioning.

Alumni members can book their place at the webinar via the IPC Alumni Forum.

Academic Partners will be contacted directly. Booking form

More Events at IPC

Meeting the needs of neurodivergent children, young people and their families – The West Yorkshire Collaborative Approach: Enhancing the Keyworker Offer

This free event is open to all and is also offered to the Academic Partners of IPC and Alumni Network of all our commissioning courses, including those who achieved the accreditation of the Certificate in Commissioning and Purchasing of Public Care, Care Purchasing and Brokerage and the Principles of Commissioning. This webinar will present West Yorkshire Barnardo’s neurodevelopmental service offer and will discuss key components of successful partnership between the ICB/local authorities and Barnardo’s in enhancing keyworking provision.

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Children’s social care involvement in the first 1001 days: changing hearts and minds

This conference will bring together frontline practitioners and clinicians, people with lived experience, commissioners and policymakers to collaboratively re-think support for families with children’s social care involvement during pregnancy or the first two years of their baby’s life, also known as the 1001 days. Professor Katy Burch, IPC Assistant Director is one of the guest speakers.

A whole-system approach to reducing gambling harm

This free and exclusive event is offered to the Academic Partners of IPC and Alumni Network of all our commissioning courses, including those who achieved the accreditation of the Certificate in Commissioning and Purchasing of Public Care, Care Purchasing and Brokerage and the Principles of Commissioning. This webinar will present the experiences of a system-wide collaboration in Wiltshire aimed at designing and implementing targeted activities that respond to local population characteristics and needs, to prevent and reduce gambling harms.

Community research: from theory to practice

This free and exclusive event is offered to the Academic Partners of IPC and Alumni Network of all our commissioning courses, including those who achieved the accreditation of the Certificate in Commissioning and Purchasing of Public Care, Care Purchasing and Brokerage and the Principles of Commissioning but we also welcome non-members, particularly those with a connection to Oxfordshire . If you are interested, please contact us at ipc@brookes.ac.uk. Places are limited so early booking is advised.

Two Red And Green Human Figures Walking In Interlocked Gears On White Background

Delivering excellent commissioning practice as a whole system and organisation

Business people with jigsaw puzzle pieces in office, Successful teamwork and partnership concept.

Residential placements operating without regulation

Anti-Racism Action Plan (Wales): Implications for Practice

IPC is hosting a free online webinar to share research findings on enablers and barriers to progression in social care for diverse minority ethnic groups. Conducted in partnership with the Staff College and commissioned by Social Care Wales, this event is open to all in social care in Wales or those interested in anti-racist practice in Wales.

Babies in Care Proceedings: What Do We Know About Parents With Learning Disabilities or Difficulties?

IPC’s Professor Katy Burch leads on Nuffield Family Justice Observatory research. Join us for a webinar covering new research that suggests that the needs of parents with learning disabilities or difficulties might not be currently being met, and potential ways forward.

Supporting the Care Provider Market to use Technology Safely

This free event is offered to accredited Alumni of the IPC Certificate in Commissioning and Purchasing for Public Care and all our colleagues and friends of IPC. The webinar is targeted at Adult and Social Care Commissioners across the UK and explores how commissioners can support market stability to help care providers go digital.

Outcome-Based Commissioning – Social Impact Bonds

This free and exclusive event is offered to the Academic Partners of IPC and accredited Alumni of the IPC Certificate in Commissioning and Purchasing for Public Care.