“Our aim has been simple – to help suppliers find the information they need, all in one place”

Carys Griffiths, senior procurement business partner within the Commercial Procurement Unit, shares insights into the improvements her team has made to Liverpool City Council’s procurement process for suppliers. Central to their efforts is the council’s new Sustainable Procurement Strategy, which strives to foster a procurement environment that is both more accessible and inclusive. The goal is to ensure that a diverse range of businesses—regardless of their size or background—can fairly compete for council contracts, with special consideration given to enhancing access for local suppliers.

To further this objective, the council has recently updated its supplier-focused procurement webpages. Collaborating closely with the digital team, the process began with a thorough review of the existing content. The focus was on improving ease of navigation, clarity of information, and overall accessibility. This project pays particular attention to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), social enterprises, voluntary and community organizations, as well as suppliers who may be unfamiliar with public sector procurement practices.

The revamped Procurement and Contracts section now features eight dedicated pages. These cover a variety of important topics, including how to find procurement opportunities, guidance on procurement processes, details on social value initiatives within the council, and supportive resources such as instructional videos related to the contract management system. By consolidating crucial information into one streamlined location, the council aims to remove unnecessary obstacles and simplify the procurement process, making it easier for a wider range of suppliers to engage and do business.

Initial feedback on these changes has been promising, with an increase in page visits and users exploring a broader spectrum of the available content. Visitors who have used the older webpages will also notice a refreshed design, with the previous grey color scheme replaced by blue. The council encourages ongoing feedback from suppliers as they continue to refine and enhance the procurement experience