Net Zero Living: Procuring for Net Zero - webinar series

With procurement accounting for a substantial amount of public sector expenditure, it holds significant potential to stimulate the delivery of improved products, processes, and services to meet Net Zero and social value objectives. These sessions unpack upcoming changes to public sector procurement, procurement frameworks, social value, and Net Zero in procurement for both the public and private sector.

Who are the webinars aimed at?

Sessions are aimed at local authorities; however, businesses are welcome to attend and can benefit from the discussions.

Local authority representatives: The sessions are aimed at officers involved in the procurement process and also those who are indirectly involved who are looking to learn more about the process.
For businesses: companies and organisations who are seeking to engage in public sector procurement with local authorities.

1: Leveraging the Procurement Act for place-based Net Zero innovation

The first webinar in this series explored the new Procurement Act which came into force in October 2024. This change represents a new opportunity for procurement to be utilised by the public sector as an enabling force for driving place-based Net Zero innovation.

During the session, Rikesh Shah, Head of the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre at Connected Places Catapult, explored how the new Procurement Act empowers the public sector to be more creative and innovative in driving Net Zero initiatives. The session included real-world case studies that illustrate successful strategies and a Q&A session.

Topics covered:

What IPEC does and how local authorities can get involved
Overview of the key changes that will be brought about by the Act
Key enablers of creating value through procurement
Real-world case studies from public sector

2: Procurement of innovation: Best practice and tips

The second webinar in this series explored the basics of ‘procurement of innovation’. During the session, Dr Ian Brotherston, Interim Deputy Director for Innovation Funding at Innovate UK, explored topics such as why you would want to procure innovation, the different types of procurement, how the Procurement Act will aid procurement of innovation, and the need for teamwork and planning. The session also included a Q&A section.

Topics covered:

What are the benefits of procurement of innovation?
Public procurement of innovation and pre-commercial procurement
The importance of pre-market engagement
Challenge-led procurement
Pre-commercial procurement of innovation (contracts for innovation)

3: Driving Net Zero outcomes with procurement frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems

The final webinar in this series is led by Kristen Green, Head of Sustainability at Crown Commercial Services. During the session, Kristen will provide an overview of procurement frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, explaining how they help streamline the procurement process for the public sector and advance progress towards decarbonisation targets.

Topics covered:

What a framework and dynamic purchasing system is and how to select one
How suppliers are chosen
What protection do they offer for the buyer?
What are the benefits of using a framework or dynamic purchasing system?
How frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems can help advance progress towards decarbonisation targets

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Net Zero Living: Procuring for Net Zero – webinar series

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Topics

Who are the webinars aimed at?

1: Leveraging the Procurement Act for place-based Net Zero innovation

2: Procurement of innovation: Best practice and tips

3: Driving Net Zero outcomes with procurement frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems

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