Engaging VCSEs and small businesses in public procurement
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Engaging voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and small businesses in public procurement — an international comparative discussion. Why? Why not? How? How not? Is it working?
The Procurement of Government Outcomes (POGO) Club is a knowledge sharing initiative that is open to anyone interested in capacity building in public procurement and in collaboration to improve social outcomes. We host monthly calls, maintain a mailing list, and share other resources. Participants come from many different disciplines, sectors, and countries. Our chair is Anne Davies, Professor of Law and Public Policy.
Aims of our group
- Helping public sector leaders understand how public procurement may be used to improve social outcomes through collaboration with the private and community / voluntary sectors.
- Encouraging better alignment of procurement plans with the mission, strategy, and budget of a program, agency or government.
- Developing the capacity of procurement practitioners to collaborate and procure social outcomes as part of the professionalisation of public procurement.
Interested? Join the mailing list by emailing Ruairi Macdonald. Find us on LinkedIn here.
Session recording
Listen to the audio recording of the session.
Session overview
Engaging voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and small businesses in public procurement — an international comparative discussion. Why? Why not? How? How not? Is it working?
Chaired by Oxford Professor Anne Davies and Crown VCSE Representative, Claire Dove, this online session included insights from a Tussell report on UK VCSEs in Public Procurement and a brisk tour around the world to hear from experts about how different governments engage with VCSEs and small businesses. This was followed by responses and audience Q&A.
Background resources
- Tussell commissioned by [UK] Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Cabinet Office (2022), UK Public Procurement through VCSEs, 2016-2020
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Cabinet Office (2021), VCSEs: A guide to working with government (Guide for VCSE organisations on how to bid and win contracts with government)
- Buying for Social Impact (2020) Reports on Social Enterprises and Public Procurement in EU Countries
- European Commission (2021) Analysis of SME's needs in public procurement
- European Committee of the Regions (2019) Implementation Report: First Consultation on Public Procurement
- UK government’s response to the transforming public procurement consultation