Blog - Minerva

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.

Navigating the Procurement Act 2023: Training, Resources, and Practical Advice

The Procurement Act 2023 officially came into force on 24 February 2025, marking a shift from the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. It’s therefore the biggest change to procurement regs for a decade!

What Tender Documents Do I Need to be Compliant With the Procurement Act 2023?

With the Procurement Act 2023 now in force, understanding how to run a compliant and transparent procurement process does need a little more work on the basis of getting your head around the new regulations.

Effective Procurement Planning

In this blog we look at the crucial aspects of procurement, to help you with your planning. To be most effective, you should consider: key…

Guest Blog: How to Exit a Contract You’re Unhappy With: A Guide for Schools and Trusts

Disclaimer: Anything posted in this blog is for general information only and is not intended to provide legal advice on any general or specific matter.…

Understanding the Procurement Act 2023: A Practical Guide to a Selection of Key Changes for Schools and Academy Trusts

The introduction of the Procurement Act 2023 has brought with it a new wave of changes for public sector procurement. For schools and academy trusts,…

Guest Blog: Ensuring School Safety and Compliance: The Critical Role of Professional Building Consultants

We are delighted to have a guest blog by the brilliant Jo Marchant MBE. Jo is an expert in her field. With 15 years’ experience…

Energy

The Procurement Blog

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

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

Guest Blog: ISBL Continuing Professional Development

Challenges To A Procurement Process And How To Avoid Them

New Procurement Act 2023 Thresholds from 1 January 2026

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

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

Why Contract Monitoring Is Where the Real Work Begins

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

Navigating the Procurement Act 2023: Training, Resources, and Practical Advice

What Tender Documents Do I Need to be Compliant With the Procurement Act 2023?

Effective Procurement Planning

Guest Blog: How to Exit a Contract You’re Unhappy With: A Guide for Schools and Trusts

Understanding the Procurement Act 2023: A Practical Guide to a Selection of Key Changes for Schools and Academy Trusts

Guest Blog: Ensuring School Safety and Compliance: The Critical Role of Professional Building Consultants

Four Tips For Cutting Energy Costs – At Little Or No Extra Cost To You

Guest Blog: Understanding New Food Waste Legislation and Its Impact

Navigating the Stages of a Competitive Flexible Procedure Tender Process Under The Procurement Act 2023

Does My Tender Need To Be Compliant With The Procurement Act 2023?

Understanding the New Procurement Act 2023: A Summary for Schools, Academies, and Multi-Academy Trusts

What Happens At The End Of An Above Threshold Tender Once We’ve Made A Decision?

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