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Articles by Sarah Burns
Budget 2027: Measures put public finances on worse trajectory, State watchdog warns
Key points Minister for Finance Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers have unveiled Budget 2027 Reductions in tax for middle-income earners are worth up to €1,500 for a couple with a combined income of €100,000 Minimum wage rises 79 cent to €14.94 Tax-free threshold for earnings under the rent-a-room relief rises to €16,000 A pack of 20 cigarettes increases by €1 A personal income tax package of €1.3 billion has been announced Temporary reduced fuel excise rates...
Fairhive’s SHDF Wave 3 Success Through the Procure Plus Retrofit Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
The Challenge Fairhive manages approximately 9,000 homes across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire and surrounding areas. As part of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) Wave 3 programme – previously known as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund – Fairhive set out to deliver retrofit improvements to 550 properties across its housing stock, which later increased to 800 due to additional funding.
Transitioning from JCT 2016 to JCT 2024: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
What’s Changed? The 2024 edition reflects both legislative changes and modernisation with gender neutral language (shift in culture) and clearer structure. There is a recognition of electronic communication along with collaborative working and sustainability included as mandatory and core obligations, allowing public sector employers to put more emphasis in these areas. The allocation of risk and administration has become clearer and include lessons from COVID.
The Procurement Act 2023 – One Year On - Procure Plus
By Clare Tetlow LLM FCIPS (CS), Procurement Lead, Procure Plus Since its implementation a year ago, the Procurement Act 2023 has brought about some of the most significant changes to public procurement across the housing sector. While the Act introduces key changes, there is a risk that different providers may interpret or apply the rules inconsistently. To address this, the sector must work together to drive earlier planning, strengthen governance, and make more strategic decision-making.
Decent Homes Reset: Focus on Condition, Data and Outcomes
With the government confirming a revised Decent Homes Standard and clearer timelines for energy efficiency, the direction of travel for housing providers is becoming more defined. While formal compliance with the new standard will not be required until 2035, the expectation is clear: providers should be planning now, with a sharper focus on condition, outcomes and long-term value. For Boards, meeting the Decent Homes Standard has long been a core responsibility.
Value For Money 2025 – Market insights to drive investment strategies. - Procure Plus
The challenges of balancing a budget are never-ending and deciding where and when savings can and should be delivered takes time and insight that isn’t always readily available. That’s where Procure Plus comes in. We’re a not-for-profit company, owned by social housing providers, specialising in procuring goods and services for repairs and maintenance. Our multidisciplinary team understands both the market and the communities our clients serve.
Thinking of tendering with Procure Plus?
Alternatively, schedule a call or meeting with one of our team We have a team of experts ready and waiting to talk you through any queries you have, whether you’re a new or existing customer. We use cookies to ensure we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to use this site you are agreeing to our cookie policy. Necessary These cookies are required to allow you to log into your Procure Plus account.
Procurement Revolution: Why New Rules Demand Smarter Strategies
At PP, we’ve been supporting the sector to prepare for the biggest shift in procurement in decades. The Procurement Act 2023 came into force in February 2025 – bringing clear, immediate changes to how housing providers must buy goods and services. At the Direct Works Seminar,our Procurement Lead Clare Tetlow and Operations Lead Matt Jarratt broke down what this means in practice: New rules New thresholds No grace periods Now is the time to review your approach.
Post-Event Summary: Unlocking the Value of Data in Social Housing
The central question guiding the roundtable was: ‘Given the challenges with data, how can we collaborate to improve?’ Participants agreed that collaboration is valued but remains fragmented. Key barriers included: silos, legacy IT, unclear ownership, and regulatory demands.
Carbon, Retrofit & Net Zero: What Social Housing Landlords Need to Know
Learn how social housing landlords can tackle carbon reduction and deliver effective retrofit projects. Orla Nutkins, Procure Plus’ Project Manager for Green Technologies, shares insights on achieving Net Zero by 2050, prioritising retrofit measures, workforce readiness, and practical carbon solutions. Have you read these?
Thinking of tendering with Procure Plus?
Have you read these? Alternatively, schedule a call or meeting with one of our team We have a team of experts ready and waiting to talk you through any queries you have, whether you’re a new or existing customer. We use cookies to ensure we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to use this site you are agreeing to our cookie policy. Necessary These cookies are required to allow you to log into your Procure Plus account.
PP’s Operation Lead, Matt Jarratt, breaks down how Direct Awards work within a framework and when they can – and can’t – be applied. Alternatively, schedule a call or meeting with one of our team We have a team of experts ready and waiting to talk you through any queries you have, whether you’re a new or existing customer.
Procurement Revolution: Why New Rules Demand Smarter Strategies
At PP, we’ve been supporting the sector to prepare for the biggest shift in procurement in decades. The Procurement Act 2023 came into force in February 2025 – bringing clear, immediate changes to how housing providers must buy goods and services. At the Direct Works Seminar,our Procurement Lead Clare Tetlow and Operations Lead Matt Jarratt broke down what this means in practice: New rules New thresholds No grace periods Now is the time to review your approach.
Board Briefing: Procurement Act 2023
The rules around procurement have changed. For Board members it means challenging your organisations in new ways to make sure you are alive to the risks and making the most of the opportunities the new Procurement Act 2023 will bring. In this briefing, Gwen Beeken, Managing Lead at Procure Plus, sets out what you need to know about the Act and the questions you should be asking your teams. What is the new Procurement Act all about?
Site Smart Programme Extended to Support More Young People into Employment
We’re proud to announce that the Site Smart programme, delivered by Procure Plus and commissioned by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWACC), will begin in June 2025. Following on from the success of the CITB funded OSE programme, Site Smart aims to break down barriers for care-experienced and NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young people who are interested in entering the construction industry.
Centralised Procurement Authorities & The Procurement Act 2023 – How can they help? - Procure Plus
Social housing organisations, like many contracting authorities across the UK public sector, rely extensively on the collaborative procurement carried out by centralised procurement authorities (CPAs), as a means by which to legally accelerate their procurement process for goods, works and services and to tap into the scale and value that can be achieved when collaborative procurement is skilfully carried out.
Landlords spending 26% more on Decent Homes works ahead of new Decent Homes 2 consultation
Landlords are already stepping up to meet the ambitions of the government’s consultation on the new Decent Homes 2 standard, with investment in improvement works up 26% in the last year, according to new data from market-leading procurement specialists Procure Plus. Key features of the proposed Decent Homes 2 standard include: Updated definition of disrepair, removing age requirements for building components and setting new thresholds.
Procure Plus’ Clare Tetlow awarded Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (FCIPS) by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) - Procure Plus
At Procure Plus, professional development is central to our commitment to excellence, social value, and sector leadership. Our team includes CIPS-qualified professionals who are passionate about creating value, driving innovations, and navigating the evolving landscape of procurement with skill and integrity.
Procure Plus and Re:Vision Social Value Report
Our latest video shows the social impact we’ve accomplished from June 2023 – July 2024 – and where we’re headed next. See how our work is creating lasting change below. Have you read these? Alternatively, schedule a call or meeting with one of our team We have a team of experts ready and waiting to talk you through any queries you have, whether you’re a new or existing customer.
Transitional arrangements – How do I know which legislation applies to my procurement? - Procure Plus
Any contracts awarded through a framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or qualification system (referred to as ‘commercial tools’) under the previous legislation will continue to be managed in accordance with that legislation.
10 years of changing lives: Re:vision marks a decade of impact with over £6.5m invested in communities
Procure Plus is proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Re:vision – its charitable arm dedicated to breaking down barriers to employment for people in some of the UK’s most deprived communities. Since 2014, Re:vision has invested over £6.5 million to support grassroots organisations, fund vocational training, and help thousands of individuals build brighter futures.
Scaffolding Pre-employment Success at HMP Thorncross
In April 2022, Procure Plus and Fulcrum Scaffolding & Training launched a scaffolding pre-employment programme at HMP Thorncross supported by the CITB Onsite Experience fund. The course includes a five-day, hands-on introduction to scaffolding, where learners construct low level structures such as towers, independents and birdcages. Over the five days, learners also complete a COTS and a GQA Level 1 Health & Safety in Construction Environment qualification.
Another successful partnership for the Greater South East Net Zero Hub and Procure Plus
Procure Plus was delighted to work with the Greater South East Net Zero Hub (GSENZH) for a second time, delivering a programme of energy efficiency improvements for homes across its region in the South East of England via the HUG2 (Home Upgrade Grant) scheme. As well as benefiting from the use of Procure Plus’ procurement frameworks, the region was also able to benefit from the “Plus” – that is, the added social value which Procure Plus brings.
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