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!

For many organisations — particularly schools and Trusts — this change has brought a steep learning curve. Understanding the new rules and ensuring compliance isn’t optional: it’s essential.

In a recent webinar, our Director Lorraine Ashover explored the key resources, training opportunities, and practical steps that can help organisations stay compliant and build confidence under the new legislation. Here are the main takeaways.

Why Procurement Legislation Matters

Whilst procurement regulations can sometimes feel like a barrier, they exist for good reason. Whether it’s public funds or parental contributions
(for example, on uniforms or catering services), we are spending other people’s money. Regulations provide transparency, fairness, and accountability.
With the Procurement Act now in place, the framework for planning, running, and managing procurements has changed — making it crucial to understand not only the “tender” stage, but also preparation and post- contract management. The regulations therefore cover the full life cycle of a procurement now.

Training and Learning Resources

There is no shortage of support available to help you and your team upskill. Here are the most recommended pathways:

1. Knowledge Drops

•  Short, 45-minute online sessions.
• Accessible and easy to understand, even for non-specialists.
• A great way to introduce staff across schools and trusts to the basics of the Procurement Act.

2. Government Commercial College

• You will need to register to use this, but once you do, it offers free, high-quality training modules.

• Skilled Practitioner Certificate*: nine modules with a test at the end. Ideal for those with procurement experience — but not recommended for beginners due to its technical level. They suggest that each module takes an hour, but in reality it will take a lot longer. It is recommended that you do not try and do more than two a day and make sure you take lots of notes and screenshots as you go along.

• Communities of Practice: an active online forum where professionals and government experts share insights, answer questions, and troubleshoot challenges.

• Contract Training: although not directly relevant to the Procurement Act 2023, if you would like to manage your contracts better then there is some great training available, again via the Government Commercial College.

• DfE-funded CIPS Procurement Fundamentals Training: if you’re reading this blog around the time it was first published they you may be able to apply for DfE funded (i.e. free!) training from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply – the professional body for procurement. Its’ education specific and ideal for anyone who conducts procurement activity as part of their role.

* Link takes you to the module information but not the test.  To get your certificate to evidence completion of the modules you need to access the training via the Government Commercial College.

3. Paid Specialist Training
For those who need more in-depth learning:

• Achilles provides courses such as the Introduction to the Procurement Act and the full Regulated Procurement Academy (six days of training spread across a number of months). Trainers are experienced practitioners and courses are fully updated for the new Act.
• In2 The Bargain, founded by Walter Akers, provides affordable courses like Guide to the Procurement Act Level 1. He also provides
  free webinars, blogs, and resources.

Both providers come with excellent recommendations and while there is a cost, they are worth looking at.

4. Minerva Training (Coming Soon)
Minerva has developed – and run – a number of modules which we have delivered to clients and our aim is to have them available on-line for you to purchase. They provide practical, scenario-based training designed to bridge the gap between compliance and real-world application. We have run this for a number of clients and feedback suggests it strikes the right balance between technical detail and practical advice. The modules cover:

• An Introduction to Procurement Law and How it Applies to my School/Trust (optional for additional fee: content can be adapted depending on the audience i.e. Trust level or school level) – 45 minutes
• 7 Key Points in a Procurement Process – 20 minutes
• How to Write a Fit for Purpose Specification – 45 minutes
• Best Practice for Running a ‘Below Threshold’ Tender – 60 minutes
• Best Practice for Running an ‘Above Threshold’ Tender – 120 minutes
• Contract Monitoring – How to Ensure Your Suppliers are Meeting Their Obligations (including Legal Agreements and Key Performance Indicators) – 45 minutes

We aim to have these available in the very near future but if you are interested in finding out more, please contact team@minervapcs.com.

Essential Online Resources

• Procurement Pathway
  A government website that guides contracting authorities through the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, now split into four phases: Plan, Define, Procure, and Manage. It contains over 50 guidance documents, summary tables, exemption “cheat sheets”, and threshold guidance. These are regularly updated so you should refer back to this site to make sure that you are using the most recent guidance. If you are going to use a document from this site, then do not save it, just go back to the site each time you need it so that you can be absolutely certain it’s the right document that you’re using.

• Transforming Public Procurement

Sign up here for here for regular newsletters, updates and webinars.

• Procurement Act – Guidance Documents

Check here for technical guidance and help with interpretation and understanding .

• Legal Insights
  • Mills & Reeve: Offers “Five in 25” webinars, client briefings, and practical tools such as a notices generator.
  • Stone King: Provides procurement support packages with tailored advice for education and public sector organisations.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Outdated Terminology: Terms like PQQ (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) are long gone. Ensure you’re using the current “Procurement-Specific Questionnaire”.
• Old Templates: Always source documents and templates from reliable platforms such as the Procurement Pathway to ensure compliance and that you are using the most up to date information and templates available.
• Google and AI Searches: Whilst useful, they may provide outdated guidance. Double-check against official sources.
• Copying Notices: Tender notices found on the Find a Tender Service are not always compliant — avoid using them as templates. You’re assuming the person/organisation completing them knows what they’re doing and believe me – having looked at some examples – they don’t always!

Final Thoughts

Adjusting to the Procurement Act 2023 will take time. Mistakes are inevitable, but they can be minimised by:

• Using official, up-to-date resources.
• Building staff knowledge through structured training.
• Seeking professional guidance where needed.

Always ask yourself the questions:

•         Is my template the most recent one available?
•         Where am I getting my information from?
•         Am I happy that my sources official, reliable and accurate?

      Above all, remember that procurement isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes — it’s about protecting public and parental funds whilst achieving the best outcomes for schools and trusts.

• • •