A regime moving from reform to enforcement
With the Procurement Act 2023 now operational, 2027 planning is shifting from understanding the rules to being audited against them, particularly around transparency notices and payment obligations that apply throughout a contract's life.
The priorities worth tracking
- Continued rollout of UK sourcing confirmation requirements across major contracts
- Sector-specific national security procurement guidance for steel, shipbuilding, AI and energy
- NHS Supply Chain's move toward value-based, comply-or-explain procurement
- Growing preference for local suppliers as budgets remain tight
- Earlier supplier engagement models, following NHS Supply Chain's lead
- Stronger contract management enforcement over tender-stage compliance alone
Getting ahead of 2027
Suppliers and buyers who start adapting to these six themes now, rather than waiting for formal enforcement, will be far better positioned than those treating 2027 planning as a repeat of previous years.
Back to Insights