| Procure Education

The Procurement Act 2023 – What Has Happened Since It Came Into Force?

The Procurement Act 2023 officially came into force on 24 February 2025, after months of preparation and a year-long delay from its original implementation date. It represents the most significant shake-up in public sector procurement for over a decade, aiming to simplify processes, improve transparency and deliver better value for communities.

For schools and trusts, however, the past months have revealed both opportunities and challenges as the sector adapts to this new framework.

What Has Changed Since February 2025?

  • Dual systems in play
    Contracts signed under the old Public Contracts Regulations (PCR 2015) still sit under those rules until they expire, while new tenders must follow the Act. Many schools are now juggling both regimes, adding complexity.
  • Training still ongoing
    Government has rolled out free e-learning, webinars and Knowledge Drops to help schools adapt, but uptake is patchy. Some trusts are confident, while others are only just starting training.
  • Greater focus on social value
    The Act requires schools to consider community benefit, fairness and SME participation. While this is positive, many leaders are struggling to translate these aspirations into practical procurement decisions.
  • New tools in place
    Updates to the “Find a Tender” service and new transparency requirements are live, but school staff report that these systems are adding to their administrative workload.
  • Cultural shift still in progress
    Procurement is being pulled into the spotlight. Instead of being an administrative task, it is now recognised as a strategic process with implications for accountability and compliance. Schools are still adjusting to this mindset.

What’s Still to Be Done?

The Act is law, but full adoption across education will take time. Areas still developing include:

  • Schools completing training and embedding new processes.
  • Trusts revisiting procurement pipelines to ensure compliance.
  • Consistent application of social value criteria across tenders.
  • Managing old and new contract regimes side by side.

Why This Matters for Schools

Budgets remain tight, and staff workloads are already stretched. While the Act promises better value and greater transparency, the reality for many schools is more reporting, more complexity and higher risk of non-compliance.

School leaders didn’t sign up to become procurement specialists. Their focus is on teaching, supporting pupils and running schools in increasingly difficult conditions. The last thing they need is another layer of red tape.

Why Procure Are the Partner Schools Can Rely On

This is where Procure step in. We are education procurement specialists, working only with schools, trusts and academies. We understand the pressures and the pain points and we make the Procurement Act work for you, not against you.

Here’s how:

  • Compliance made simple – We manage procurement processes end-to-end, ensuring every tender meets the new requirements.
  • Value where it matters – We achieve an average 25% cost saving and 20% staff time saving for schools.
  • Trusted suppliers – All our partners are pre-vetted, meaning quality and compliance are guaranteed.
  • Proven results – With a 96% contract renewal rate and 98% positive feedback, schools trust us to deliver.
  • Peace of mind – We bring decades of procurement, education and accounting experience into one place.

The Procurement Act 2023 has reshaped procurement for schools – but it hasn’t solved the everyday reality of rising costs, tighter budgets and staff stretched to the limit. If anything, it has made the process more complex.

That’s why schools need a partner who not only understands the law but also understands their world. Procure take care of compliance, cut costs without cutting quality, and give back precious staff time.

So while the Procurement Act 2023 continues to bed in, schools that partner with Procure can stay ahead of the curve and keep their focus where it belongs – on pupils, not paperwork.

We’re here to help schools get more value from every contract especially when it comes to school meals, facilities and essential services. If you’re reviewing your school procurement strategy, let’s talk.