05 September 2025
Photograph: Steve Debenport/iStock
We have submitted our response to the Cabinet Office鈥檚 consultation on amendments to the Procurement Act 2023.
The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025, with the aim of modernising public procurement in the UK. The Act seeks to simplify the process, making it more flexible and transparent, delivering better value for money, and encouraging greater participation from SMEs in the market.聽
Track the progress of this review and the NFU's response on this page.
5 September 2025
The consultation has officially closed, concluding the period for stakeholders to provide formal input.
4 September 2025
In our response, the NFU broadly supported the reforms, particularly measures to increase SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and VCSE (Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise)鈥痯articipation within contracts, improve transparency, and embed social value into contracts.
Our response agreed that mandating spend targets, extending payment reporting, and excluding poor payers will drive greater fairness, resilience, and supplier confidence, particularly in the agri-food sector, where SMEs play a vital role.
We also emphasised the importance of transparent and accessible markets as a foundation for trust and growth and called for additional routes to market for British producers.
Throughout the response, the significant social value of British food production was highlighted, and we urged the government to broaden the definition of social value to reflect its wider contributions of food production, from job creation and skills development to environmental stewardship and food security.
Particularly on national capability, we stressed that food security is national security and urged procurement policies to better support resilient domestic supply chains.
NFU members can log in and read our consultation response in full.
26 June 2025
The Cabinet Office has launched a consultation to build on the changes introduced in the Procurement Act 2023. The consultation will run from 26 June 2025 until 5 September 2025聽
The proposals focus on driving growth, supporting small businesses and social enterprises, creating local jobs and skills, enhancing social value, and safeguarding national and economic security.
Key measures include:
Find out more about the consultation on: .
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