Blog - Minerva

‘A day in the life of….’

Name: Lorraine Ashover 1.Tell us something interesting about yourself we might not know? – As a massive footie fan (Nottingham Forest and England) I was really…

Guest Blog: Demystifying energy in schools: What’s driving up your bill and how can you protect your budget?

Zenergi explains what’s driving rising school energy costs and how schools can better protect budgets and plan sustainably.

Planning a Successful Above Threshold Tender

In this blog, we explore the key considerations for planning a successful above-threshold tender, including timelines, compliance requirements and procurement stages.

Planning a Successful Below Threshold Tender

Timing is one of the most important factors in running a successful below thresholdprocurement. Although these tenders do not have the same mandated minimumperiods as…

Contract Mobilisation – What Happens When The Procurement Ends and The Mobilisation Begins?

Why Mobilisation Matters More Than You Think After Procurement In a recent webinar, Lorraine highlighted the importance of the mobilisation period. Based on herown experience…

Estate Management

Guest Blog: Smarter Estates Planning for the Next Decade

The publication of the DfE’s Education Estate Strategy in February marked a step change in the delivery of estate management, capital funding, and the ongoing maintenance of the estate. It promises a decade of national renewal to address the well-documented condition and maintenance backlog affecting the education estate.

The Procurement Act 2023: One Year On – what schools and Trusts need to know (and do) Part Two

The Procurement Act 2023: One Year On – what schools and Trusts need to know (and do) Part Two Following on from our “Part One” blog post we’re now going…

The Procurement Act 2023: One Year On – what schools and Trusts need to know (and do) Part One

It’s now a year(ish) into life under the Procurement Act 2023, and while a lot of the principles will feel familiar, the practicalities have definitely shifted — especially around transparency, conflicts, notices, and the Central Digital Platform.

LGPS in School Procurement: How to Avoid Pension Pitfalls When Tendering Outsourced Services

Schools outsource services all the time — catering, cleaning, IT support — and most procurement teams are confident navigating TUPE, pricing, and mobilisation. But there is one area that repeatedly causes delays, disputes, and bidder anxiety: pensions, and specifically the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

ISO:9001 – what is it and why does it matter?

ISO:9001 – What is it and why does it matter? What is ISO:9001? ISO:9001 is an international quality management system standard. Clear as mud? Let’s…

Guest Blog: ISBL Continuing Professional Development

At the start of a new year you may be thinking about the future and where you might want to be in a year’s time. Professional development is at the heart of career progression and this week we have a guest blog from Lee Herridge, Director of Professional Development and Sector Development at the ISBL which looks at the practical steps you can take to move your career forward.

Challenges To A Procurement Process And How To Avoid Them

At Minerva, full compliance with procurement regulations is not just a nice-to-have – it is at the heart of everything we do. Our role is twofold: to ensure that the processes we run are fully compliant, and to support and upskill our clients so that they can feel confident about their own procurement activity.

New Procurement Act 2023 Thresholds from 1 January 2026

The Procurement Act 2023 continues to reshape the public procurement landscape, and from 2026/27 the revised financial thresholds will apply when determining whether a procurement must follow the full regulated procedures.

Minerva news

A little giving, a big difference – and a festive thank you🎄

A little giving, a big difference – and a festive thank you As we head towards the end of the year, the team at Minerva…

Abandoning a Tender Process: Practical Guidance for Schools, Academies and Trusts

For maintained schools, academies, and MATs, running an effective and compliant procurement process is essential — but sometimes the best decision is to abandon a tender and start again. Whether your procurement falls under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023) or is a below-threshold exercise, understanding when and how you can abandon a process helps protect the you from risk and ensures fairness to bidders.

Contract Monitoring

Why Contract Monitoring Is Where the Real Work Begins

For many organisations, the end of a procurement process feels like the finish line. The tender has been completed, the preferred bidder selected, and the contract formally awarded. However, that’s not the end of the journey – it’s the beginning of the most important phase.

Understanding the Competitive Flexible Procedure, Request for Proposal, Framework, and Dynamic Markets Options in UK Public Sector Procurement

Procurement is a crucial part of the UK public sector, ensuring transparency, competition, and value for money. The Procurement Act 2023 introduced new tools as well as updates to existing ones, helping contracting authorities (like you) procure goods, services, and works more effectively.

The Procurement Blog