New National Procurement Policy Statement Better for Us says Aspire
Aspire Community Works, a leading organization working to tackle labor market disadvantage, has welcomed the newly published National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) by the government. The organization, along with its Better For Us campaign, views the NPPS as a significant step towards ensuring that public contracts deliver genuine public value while also promoting decent working conditions and a more diverse market.
The NPPS, which will come into effect on February 24th, requires all contracting authorities to have procedures in place that ensure value for money, not just in financial terms, but also in terms of wider socio-economic and environmental benefits. This includes eliminating low-value and poor-quality bids that undercut responsible businesses and drive down standards. The NPPS also emphasizes the importance of co-designing local services and ensuring that procurement is shaped by the needs of communities, delivering greater social and economic value.
Katharine Sutton, Director of Aspire Community Works and the Better For Us campaign, expressed her support for the NPPS, stating, “Aspire has long advocated for the Real Living Wage and Good Work accreditation to be the baseline for public contracts. We welcome the government’s recognition that fair pay and good working conditions must be assured as part of the procurement process. Public money should fund good jobs, not bad ones, plain and simple.”
The NPPS also recognizes the potential of procurement to break down barriers to employment, particularly for those facing institutional disadvantage in the labor market. It encourages an increase in procurement spend with social enterprises and voluntary organizations.
Sutton further added, “It is now up to all of us – government, public authorities, businesses, and civil society – to turn policy into practice. By practicing fair and innovative commissioning and procurement, we can build an everyday economy that works for everyone, not just a select few.”
For more information, please contact Katharine Sutton at 07966 890401 or visit Aspire Community Works at www.betterforus.org.uk.
Notes to editors:
– BetterForUs is a campaign run by award-winning organization Aspire Community Works, which aims to tackle labor market disadvantage by providing sustainable employment and training opportunities that offer the Real Living Wage as a minimum, good working conditions, and promoting the voice of frontline employees in the design and delivery of services. The majority of its frontline work is obtained through the public procurement process.
– The Procurement Act 2023 is set to come into force on February 24, 2025.
– The National Procurement Policy Statement, which was published today, outlines the government’s strategic priorities for public procurement in England and should be considered by strategic leaders and key decision-makers in contracting authorities.
– BetterforUs is supported by Trust for London, Social Enterprise UK, and Community.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.