More than half (53.1%) of housing sector experts have reported gaps in the training and resources available to support implementation of the Procurement Act 2023.
The new Procurement Act came into effect in February and requires public sector clients to consider social value in all their procurement decisions to ensure that projects contribute to community development and sustainability targets.
A new survey commissioned by Commercial Services Group reveals that respondents have mixed feelings on the effectiveness of the Act to help achieve the objectives of the National Procurement Policy Statement.
According to the findings, additional support is needed to ensure the potential benefits of the new Act are realised.
Over half (53.1%) of respondents believe the Act will ultimately significantly strengthen workforce capacity. However, nearly two thirds (59.4%) voiced concern about meeting new transparency regulations.
Almost half (46.9%) said limited resource capacity will be their biggest challenge in delivering the Act’s requirements.
Even though half of respondents also identified financial constraints as one of their biggest challenges, over a third (37.5%) believe the Act will have little to no impact on cost efficiencies and value for money in procurement activities.
Social value and net zero targets
More broadly, confidence in the direction of the new Act remains relatively high, with more than half (56%) of respondents believing it will help to deliver better social and economic value to local communities.
The new legislation also aims to support environmental goals. However, despite resources being available to secure energy resilience and achieve return on investment, perceptions remain a barrier, according to the survey.
One in four (25%) of respondents believe the Act will only have a minor impact on net zero and sustainability, another key challenge in the industry.
Tarryn Kerr, managing director of procurement services at Commercial Services Group, said: “With housing shortages, and increasing supply chain pressures presenting an ongoing concern across the UK, it’s more important than ever that the housing sector can work effectively and efficiently.
“Despite many believing that workforce capacity will be improved by the Act, there is a feeling of hesitancy over transparency requirements and the resources and training required to meet the objectives.”
According to Kerr, more can be done to support the housing industry with the introduction of the Act, through effective frameworks and tools to support compliant procurement.
“This will be essential for its adoption into critical supply chain activities, helping to unlock value and support local communities for many years to come,” Kerr added.
