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Our dedicated Procurement Team specialises in delivering compliant and strategic procurement solutions that mitigate risk and safeguard against legal challenges.

With extensive experience, we assist organisations in creating, managing, and executing procurement policies that maximize value and ensure operational efficiency.

The Procurement Act 2023 has introduced key changes, emphasising transparency in procurement practices. We offer bespoke training and consultancy to ensure our clients are able to navigate and adapt to the evolving legislative requirements brought in by the Act. We will ensure that our clients are fully compliant with the new legislation while also achieving desired, innovative results.

Our detailed understanding of the issues facing both public and private sector bodies including best value, efficiency savings and sustainability, means we can offer pragmatic solutions that drive performance improvements across various sectors.

If legal challenges arise, we are ready to provide expert advice on both the pursuit and defence of claims related to procurement processes.

Our expert team, specialising in ensuring smooth, creative and effective procurement, are here to help.

Our services include:

Strategic procurement advice and cost-effective solutions
  • Advising an NHS Foundation Trust on the procurement issues arising from established a regional NHS laundry to manage the laundry and linen requirements of other local HNS bodies;
  • Advising an NHS Foundation Trust on the procurement of a combined prosthetics and orthotics service, including drafting the procurement documents and contract terms;
  • Advising a local authority in assessing its procurement options for the re-development of town centre sites for affordable housing, including advice on a site partially owned by a registered housing provider;
  • Advising a local authority on its procurement, using the competitive dialogue procedure, of a new real-time passenger information system for the regional bus network, including preparing the contract and drafting the procurement documents;
  • Advising a local authority on the procurement of a new operator for ten leisure centres; and
  • Provided strategic advice to a publicly funded body on the procurement of fund managers for three new investment funds designed to support start-ups and growing businesses, including advising on the evaluation and moderation process.
Advising on and managing procurement challenges
  • Advising a private healthcare provider on a challenge to a procurement of dental services under the NHS Provider Selection Regime
  • Advising a diagnostics provider on a challenge to a procurement by an NHS Foundation Trust for community diagnostics services.
  • Advising a utilities company on a threatened challenge following the procurement of a works framework.
Extensive, bespoke training seminars
  • We have delivered targeted and tailored Procurement Act 2023 seminars to multiple local authorities, including a regional group of authorities, private sector organisations and members of a national procurement organisation. This has involved dealing with organisation specific issues, regional issues and a detailed analysis and overview of the new obligations on contracting authorities and suppliers.
Drafting tailored procurement and contract documents
  • Advising a utilities company in the electricity industry on updating its procurement template documents to reflect the new Procurement Act;
  • Advising a London Borough on the structure of its procurement documents to appoint a developer for the development of housing on brownfield sites; and
  • Reviewing the procurement and contract template documents for a central procurement body in the housing association sector.
Weekly procurement briefings

Read our Procurement in a Nutshell series here.

Contact a specialist

Melanie Pears

Partner | Head of Public Sector

+44 (0) 330 137 3451

+44 (0)789 987 8424

Email Melanie Pears

Read bio

Tim Care

Partner | Public Sector

+44 (0) 330 137 3458

+44 (0) 752 590 3378

Email Tim Care

Read bio

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What people say

  • It was a pleasure working with you guys... I think we ended up with a strong contract and robust procurement - evidenced by the FBC sailing through central approvals. Remarkable team effort.

    Kyle McClelland, Project Director, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • You [Melanie Pears] and your team have played a key role in getting us to where we are now. You have fitted into the team really well and have given us good and pragmatic advice along the way. I have worked with a number of legal firms over the years. My experience is that progress is made when there is a real understanding – both ways – of the issues and context. You and your team have provided this, so very many thanks for your contribution.

    David Hartshorne, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • My heartfelt thanks for all of your support over the years which I have appreciated and valued greatly. You've given fantastic service to the NHS and this is highly valued. I have appreciated your help and friendship too.

    Michael Smillie, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
  • Melanie Pears is a go-to adviser on NHS-related PFI projects.

    Legal 500
  • The team are highly professional with excellent knowledge of the NHS and in particular the Ambulance Service. They are very reliable and promptly respond to clients requests. Ward Hadaway are an exceptionally client-focused firm who truly work in partnership with Trust. Overall we have an extremely good working relationship providing high quality and value for money.

    Alan Gallagher, Head of Risk and Regulatory Services, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
  • We have a real sense of a fresh approach from Ward Hadaway in terms of client engagement which is providing the Trust with added value benefits in terms of both cost and quality of service.

    Paul Dowell MCIPS, Deputy Head of Procurement & Supplies, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
  • In all areas their advice has been prompt and reliable. Their knowledge of the relevant legislation in these areas has been excellent and very helpful to the Trust.

    Kevin Lewis, Procurement & Contracts Manager, North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust
  • I continue to find the members of Ward Hadaway to be both personable and proactive and they are always on call to discuss any queries we may have. The team provide accurate, timely and balanced advice, are willing to 'go the extra mile' and are very good at offering options for minimising legal expenditure.

    Chris Parsons, Director of Estates and Facilities, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust