From Complexity to Clarity: Making Procurement Work Under the New Regime

Public procurement accounts for over £300 billion annually in the UK and therefore efficiency isn’t just desirable, it’s essential. The Procurement Regulations 2024, now live as of 24 February 2025, replaces the EU-based regime with what was intended to be a simplified, flexible framework; however, the reality so far presents the picture of a system that is more complex rather than less.

Many procuring authorities have not yet fully grasped the benefits and are going to market with a very similar process to that under the previous regulations. While the new Regulations aim to simplify, some procuring authorities have found the new notice requirements and exclusion powers burdensome and time-consuming. In addition, rather than streamlining the qualification phase of a procurement, the Regulations have resulted in a duplication of effort as the introduction of the updated central digital platform “Find a Tender” requires businesses to be registered and to keep their records up to date, whilst there has been no reduction in the information requested by procuring authorities as part of the procurement process. Whether this is due to cautious organisations taking a risk-averse approach to procurement or a genuine need to duplicate this information, it is not yet clear.

Despite the ambitions of the Procurement Regulations 2024 to simplify and open up public sector procurement, several persistent barriers continue to hinder progress. One major challenge is the complexity of compliance and navigating the legal and procedural nuances, which demands significant expertise, which can result in a tendency to be over cautious. For example, local authorities seeking to procure food waste collection services ahead of Simpler Recycling coming into force in March next year, may struggle to balance cost-efficiency with the need for high service quality and environmental compliance, which require nuanced evaluation criteria that don’t always fit within standardised templates. This in turn reinforces an approach where former procurement processes are just adapted to fit the new Regulations, rather than taking the opportunity to devise a new simplified approach.

Legacy systems and entrenched procurement practices are also slowing the adoption of more agile, transparent approaches, and the shift from EU-derived frameworks introduces uncertainty, especially around interpretation. Furthermore, risk-averse scoring models entrench status quo suppliers, while the lack of accessible digital portals and plain-language guidance deters smaller operators from engaging. Without targeted onboarding and clearer pathways for niche providers, the sector risks missing out on agile, low-carbon solutions that align with Net Zero and resource efficiency goals.

To help procuring authorities get the best outcomes from their procurement processes, a shift towards strategic capability-building is essential. This includes investing in training that goes beyond compliance to cover market engagement, outcome-based specifications, and innovation-friendly evaluation. Authorities should be supported to co-design procurement strategies with end users and suppliers, especially in complex sectors like waste and resource management where technical nuance and social value are critical. The Cabinet Office’s guidance on covered procurement objectives encourages a focus on integrity, value for money, and public benefit, but these principles must be embedded through practical tools, such as modular templates, decision trees, and digital dashboards that make good procurement easier to deliver. Collaboration across authorities, peer benchmarking, and shared learning platforms can also help build confidence and consistency in applying the new regime.

The Procurement Regulations 2024 isn’t just a legal shift it is a strategic opportunity to improve public procurement. By embedding clarity, collaboration, and continuous improvement, we can make public procurement not only more streamlined, but more impactful.

If you need advice on how to achieve the best outcome from your next procurement project, then please get in touch.