Procurement is the process used by public bodies (local authorities, NHS Trusts & other government departments) to buy-in goods, services or works from outside contractors. The public sector is one of the largest purchasers of goods and services in the UK. These are often offered as contracts through a competitive process called “tendering” and often run for periods of three years or longer.

Some of the community-focused services or lower-valued contracts ideally supplied by social enterprises and voluntary sector organisations can be contracted using other options, with or without competitive elements. For smaller or more inexperienced social enterprises these can be an excellent way to build experience in public service delivery, developing relations and a track record with public bodies before seeking larger contract opportunities.

Your social enterprise could become a contractor for the services you already provide, or similar ones you decide to develop. Depending on the nature of your products or services you could work towards contracting directly with public organisations, or indirectly as a sub-contractor to another organisation.

It may also be highly beneficial to consider forming new partnerships with other social enterprises or businesses to access more, or larger contract opportunities.