How the Procurement Act 2023 is Transforming Procurement Roles: What Clients Need to Know

The Procurement Act 2023 came into effect in February 2025, fundamentally changing how public sector procurement operates across the UK. For hiring managers and talent acquisition teams, understanding these shifts is essential.

The procurement professionals you hire today must be equipped not just with traditional buying expertise but with a broader skill set that addresses the Act’s emphasis on transparency, social value, and strategic thinking.

If you’re looking to stay ahead of these changes and other trends such as AI & ESG, our Procurement Hiring Report offers current market insights on skills and salary trends in this evolving landscape.

The Shift from Compliance to Strategy

The most significant change under the new Act is the move away from rigid, box-ticking compliance toward strategic, outcomes-focused procurement.

Where the old Public Contracts Regulations emphasised following prescribed procedures, the new framework encourages procurement teams to think holistically about value creation.

The transition from MEAT (Most Economically Advantageous Tender) to MAT (Most Advantageous Tender) reflects this change—evaluation criteria now explicitly include social and environmental factors alongside commercial considerations.

What does this mean for your hiring process?

Look for candidates who demonstrate strategic thinking and can articulate how procurement decisions connect to organisational objectives.

During interviews, ask candidates to describe situations where they balanced multiple stakeholder interests or contributed to policy implementation through their purchasing decisions.

Technology and Transparency Take Centre Stage

The new Act introduces centralised digital platforms for tendering and supplier registration, making technology literacy non-negotiable for procurement professionals.

These systems create new transparency requirements and data management responsibilities that procurement teams must navigate daily.

When evaluating candidates, assess their comfort level with procurement technology.

Ask:

• Can they adapt to new systems quickly?
• Do they understand how digital platforms work?
• Are they aware of how these platforms can improve efficiency while maintaining compliance?

These technical capabilities are becoming as important as traditional negotiation and supplier management skills.

The Social Value Imperative

Perhaps the most visible change under the Procurement Act 2023 is the elevated importance of social value considerations.

Procurement professionals must now evaluate how purchasing decisions contribute to community development, environmental sustainability, and inclusive economic growth.

This requirement demands professionals who can meaningfully assess supplier proposals against social and environmental criteria, work collaboratively with sustainability experts, and communicate the broader impact of procurement decisions to stakeholders.

Navigating Increased Scrutiny

The new Act brings heightened compliance requirements, including more detailed documentation, enhanced supplier due diligence, and stronger debarment rules.

Procurement professionals must balance these requirements with the need to maintain efficient, responsive purchasing processes.

During candidate assessment, explore how they approach risk management and documentation. Can they maintain efficiency while ensuring thorough compliance? These capabilities are becoming increasingly valuable as oversight intensifies.

Building Future-Ready Procurement Teams

The transformation brought by the Procurement Act 2023 creates opportunities for procurement professionals to take on more strategic, visible roles. However, it also presents challenges as teams adapt to new ways of working.

For hiring managers, this means adopting a broader view of procurement competency.

Technical purchasing skills remain important, but they must be complemented by strategic thinking, digital literacy, stakeholder management, and policy awareness.

When building your procurement team, consider the transitional nature of the current environment. Look for professionals who demonstrate adaptability and continuous learning.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of the Act’s implications, Procurement Act Live offers specialised training and insights for procurement professionals navigating these changes.

Practical Steps for Hiring Success

Focus on candidates who combine traditional procurement expertise with the emerging competencies that the new Act demands.

During interviews, present scenarios that require balancing commercial, social, and environmental considerations. Ask candidates to walk through their approach to supplier engagement, particularly with SMEs and diverse suppliers who are prioritised under the new framework.

For detailed insights into current market trends and skill demands in procurement roles, our comprehensive industry hiring report provides data-driven guidance for building competitive recruitment strategies.

The Procurement Act 2023 has fundamentally altered the procurement profession, creating both opportunities and challenges for organisations building their purchasing capabilities.

By understanding these changes and adapting your hiring approach accordingly, you can build procurement teams that contribute to your organisation’s strategic objectives.

Whether you’re looking to post a new procurement vacancy or simply want to understand current market dynamics, the key is recognising that procurement has evolved from a transactional function to a strategic capability that requires a correspondingly sophisticated approach to talent acquisition.