The UK government will implement the Procurement Act 2023 on February 24, 2025, introducing changes to increase small business participation in public contracts. The government spends £400 billion annually on public procurement and has set a target to direct over £120 billion to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Only around 10% of contracts are awarded directly to SMEs, rising to 24% when subcontracting is included.
A key change under the new Act is the introduction of a Central Digital Platform to replace and enhance the Find a Tender service. The platform will centralise supplier registration, store core business details for multiple bids, and improve visibility into public procurement opportunities. Suppliers can manage profiles, track procurement notices, and set up tender alerts. The platform will also capture procurement data for future analysis.
All suppliers seeking public sector contracts must register on the new platform, regardless of previous registration on Find a Tender or Contracts Finder.
