Your Charities Views on Government’s Plans to Increase Public Spending Needed

Charities have been asked to share their views on the government’s plans to increase public sector procurement spending with the sector.

Earlier this year, the Cabinet Office published a procurement policy statement for central government departments, requiring them to “maximise procurement spend” with voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.

It has since opened a consultation, which runs until 5 September 2025 and proposes amending the Procurement Act 2023 to mandate other large public bodies to set direct VCSE spending targets.

The proposals would require contracting authorities with a procurement spend over £100m per year, including large councils and NHS Trusts, to publish their own three-year targets for direct spend with SMEs and VCSEs and report against them annually.

Sector umbrella body NCVO has now asked charities to respond to its own survey to help formulate its response to the government’s consultation on the new public procurement rules.

NCVO issued the call-out late last week for voluntary organisations that deliver public services for public bodies, or add social value for government suppliers.

It will use the survey responses to prepare a response to send to the government, which has requested feedback from the sector on the proposed changes to public procurement rules.

The umbrella body described the consultation as “an opportunity to push for a system that works better for voluntary organisations”, but noted that the proposed changes could “significantly affect how charities and voluntary organisations deliver public services”.

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