Review to look at ways to improve small business access to public sector food contracts: Tell us your views

Environment secretary Steve Barclay has appointed Will Quince MP to conduct a review into improving food procurement in the public sector. 

One area of his work is looking at ways to make the system more accessible to small and medium businesses and farmers, by helping them to win public sector contracts.

The review will also look at how the government can further promote high standards for food and catering services, in locations such as hospitals and local authority settings, and consider opportunities to extend the reach of the existing framework, the government buying standard for food and catering services, particularly to education settings.

Will Quince said:

"Public bodies spend around £5bn on food every year so it's right that we look at opportunities to boost the impact food procurement has on the environment and the local community.

“Whether it's schools, our armed forces, hospitals, prisons or local councils, I look forward to working with all those involved in the production, buying, cooking, serving and consumption of food in public bodies to identify the ways in which we can deliver on our commitments on climate, nature and health and considering the benefits of, and barriers to delivering food that is fresh, local and sustainable."

In 2022, the Department for Food, Environment & Rural Affairs consulted on possible changes to public sector food and catering policy. The proposals included efforts to open up contracts to more small businesses.

Among the ideas were breaking contracts down into smaller lots to help businesses with limited product ranges, allowing small, local suppliers to provide goods to organisations as nominated suppliers alongside larger suppliers, and contracting authorities influencing tier 1 suppliers to promote SMEs within their supply chains.

The government has not yet published a response to the consultation.

Share your views on improving small business access to public sector food procurement

Enterprise Nation wants to hear from small businesses already applying for public sector food contracts, businesses wanting to access food contracts and experts advising food firms.

We will use your views to inform the government's latest review.

If you have opinions and experiences to share on the process for bidding for contracts, email Dan Martin on content@enterprisenation.com