In September 2025, IPC hosted a successful webinar focussing on the art of the possible within the new Procurement Act 2023. We were joined by over 100 of our Academic Partners and members of the IPC Commissioning Course Alumni Network.
Amy Harmsworth Senior Consultant at IPC, gave an overview of the Procurement Act 2023, including a summary of the key features and changes introduced by the new Act, and the ongoing use of the light touch regime for people services.
Guest Speaker
Julian Blake a specialist public benefit lawyer with Stone King, was the guest speaker of the event. Julian is the co-author of “The Art of the Possible in Public Procurement” (2016) and “The Art of the Possible in Public Procurement: New Horizons for Empowering Innovation” (2024) and a member of the VCSE Crown Commissioner’s Advisory Panel to Government.
Julian offered his thoughts and guidance on using the Procurement Act 2023 to ensure our public care commissioning arrangements are as purpose driven, people focussed and as collaborative as possible to achieve the right interventions and outcomes, delivered by the right partners. This included reference to examples of the development of Strategic Partnerships in Leicestershire, Alliance Contracts in Plymouth, mission driven procurement in Camden and the Liberated Method in Gateshead.
Julian’s advice
- The need for our commissioning to be bespoke and people-focussed
- The need for generational change to mindset and culture
- Consideration of a variety of commissioning methods such as using subsidy grants, investment, facilitation, partnership and collaboration agreements, and relational contracts
- Procuring for capability, not service
- Building trust and mutual understanding – shared perspectives with providers of care and support
- Embedding public value imperatives – purpose, engagement, commitment and collaboration
The Q and A with Julian was followed by an opportunity for attendees to connect in smaller groups, and share how they have been working within the new Procurement Act so far.
Thank you to Julian for joining us, and sharing his thoughts and observations about public care commissioning from a social enterprise perspective.
