How the Procure Plus Framework Saved £30m
Procure Plus is a not-for-profit company supporting social housing providers with procurement solutions focussed on value and transparency.
Over the course of the last year, its frameworks surged to £232m (US$316m) in 24/25 - a £24m (approx US$27m) increase on the previous year - as more clients turned to the not-for-profit to deliver value for money.
It has been powered by a surge in something the company calls 'decent homes', which includes kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems and roofing.
There were also responsive repairs, which have stayed at the heart of its work, with more than 4.1 million transactions managed over the year. These programmes have helped 113 people into work – as clients get the benefits from greater supply chain efficiencies and smarter use of its catalogues and systems – which has led to better savings on items such as materials and delivery.
Tackling damp and mould at source
There has also been a greater focus on tackling the root of major problems such as damp and mould – leading to 6,603 ventilation measures being installed and the commissioning of 32,470 stock condition surveys, as landlords aim to gather detailed insights into their housing portfolios.
This increase in demand also created jobs and upskilling opportunities for people previously distant from the labour market.
Meanwhile, heavy admin requirements and slow processing have affected delivery of the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG), with only £27.85m (approx US$32.17m) of the £42.29m (approx US$48.86m) allocation delivered.
The company has also looked at gathering feedback from landlords in order to improve slower progress.
All of this has led to a pipeline of Warm Homes funded works for the years ahead, driving an improvement in skills development in green technologies and has already supported 156 people into employment in retrofit-focussed roles.
Building skills and creating opportunities
This momentum is a welcome addition for items such as retrofit works and decarbonisation efforts and Procure Plus is preparing to launch a renewed Low and Zero Carbon Technology framework in November 2025, incorporating the lessons learned from the initial funding streams.
Meanwhile, the company's investment into building safety works framework helped to get 95 people employed over the course of the last year, whilst also supporting the upskilling of 208 individuals, helping to open the door to more entry-level roles and tackle long-standing shortages across the construction and housing sectors.
In total, 782 people were supported into work during 2024/25 – 93% of whom came from priority groups, and 87% remained in work for at least three months. A further 301 people completed training to support their route into employment in the sector.
Procure Plus also contributes to communities via its charitable arm Re:vision. It has invested more than £800,000 (approx US$1.08m) in the last year, supporting 50 local community and voluntary organisations across its clients' neighbourhoods.
Matt Jarratt, Operations Lead of Procure Plus, says: "We know our clients are facing increasing pressure to deliver more for less, while tackling complex issues like damp and mould and meeting Decent Homes standards.
"Our latest figures reflect not just the savings we deliver, but the wider impact of our work. Every framework is designed to maximise social value - from helping people into work and addressing skills shortages, to improving systems and supply chains so clients get the best results from every pound they spend.
"This is about procurement with purpose. We're proud to be driving progress across the sector, with social value and community impact embedded in every part of our work."