The Procurement Act, one year on: Impact on procurement culture across Welsh social housing

Since the Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025, Welsh social housing providers have experienced a significant shift in how procurement is planned, delivered, and monitored.

The Act introduced a new UK-wide regime with specific Welsh nuances, integrating processes through the Welsh Digital Platform and Sell2Wales, and embedding far greater levels of transparency and advance planning into all regulated procurements.

While challenges remain around complexity and the practicalities of implementation, the reforms are widely seen as creating opportunities to deliver more meaningful, socially valuable procurement outcomes.

In this session, Barcud Shared Services and CHIC will talk through how the Act has begun reshaping procurement culture across the Welsh social housing sector – driving better transparency and flexibility, enabling more strategic supplier engagement and helping embed Welsh priorities such as decarbonisation and workforce wellbeing.

They will also share what they have learnt and what to look out for, to improve procurement practice, and maximise the potential benefits for Welsh Housing Associations.