Government & Not for Profit

A year after the introduction of major procurement reforms, attention is turning to whether the new legislation is creating meaningful changes in how public money is spent and contracts are delivered in Wales.In this special episode of the Government and Not-for-Profit Podcast, Grahame Steed, Director of Public Policy and Research at BiP Solutions Ltd, and Richard Dooner, Programme Manager at the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), discuss what has changed for buyers and suppliers, including transparency, social value, prompt payment and access to public contracts for SMEs and VCFSEs. They also explore how Wales could use its public purchasing power to strengthen Welsh supply chains and support economic growth.The episode comes ahead of Procurex Wales, taking place in Cardiff on 11 November 2026.

AI is reshaping how organisations of all sizes and across sectors think about efficiency, service delivery and innovation. Host Gemma Casey is joined by Chris Elias of Perago, Tim Bashford of the Wales Institute of Digital Information at University of Wales Trinity St David and Rhian Moore of South Wales Fire & Rescue Service to discuss how public sector organisations can build the culture and confidence for AI adoption.

Wales has long been a leader in sustainable development through the Well-being of Future Generations Act but as the climate crisis intensifies, design has a critical role to play in ensuring the systems we create today are fit for the future. Host Gemma Casey is joined by Cory Hughes of Perago, Simon Griffiths of Ethos Chain and Joseph Kidd of Afallen LLP to discuss how applying the principles of design for planet can help public bodies rethink how they plan, procure, and deliver services.

Local authorities across Wales are grappling with growing demand, shrinking budgets, and rising expectations from citizens. Host Gemma Casey is joined by Tim Daley of Perago, Ian Vaughan of Neath Port Talbot Council and Karen Williams of Caerphilly County Borough Council to discuss how councils are going beyond ‘fixing the website’ and are tackling organisational barriers to lasting change.

This special episode of the Government & Not for Profit Podcast explores the evolving landscape of procurement in the wake of the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023.With the public sector marketplace in Wales worth almost £11 billion, and a renewed focus on opportunities for small businesses, how are things changing for both buyers and suppliers?Host Gemma Casey is joined by Richard Dooner of the Welsh Local Government Association, Grahame Steed, of BiP Solutions – which is hosting Procurex Wales in Cardiff in November in partnership with Welsh Government – and Tomos Lewis of Blake Morgan LLP.

Leadership plays a critical role in driving digital transformation to provide better public services while ensuring value for the public purse.Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Harriet Green of the Centre for Digital Public Services, Liz Lucas of Caerphilly County Borough Council and Dyfed Alsop of the Welsh Revenue Authority to discuss how they are leveraging digital as an enabler for service improvement.

What role does the public sector play in driving decarbonisation and achieving net zero targets in Wales? Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Helen Nelson of Future Generations Wales and Ben Burggraaf of Net Zero Industry Wales to discuss.

With local authorities facing increasing pressure on budgets, host Carwyn Jones is joined by Councillor Paul Miller, Deputy Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, and The Baroness Wilcox of Newport, to examine the challenges and opportunities the public sector is likely to encounter in 2025, including financial sustainability and the impact of new procurement legislation.

What is social impact or social value - and how can it be effectively measured? Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Paul Shackson, Director of the Camarilla Group; Catryn Newton, Community Investment and Communications Director at Bute Energy; Owen Derbyshire, CEO at Keep Wales Tidy and Claire Lane, Director of Wales and Sport at StreetGames UK to discuss how organisations can track and demonstrate the value they bring to communities and society at large.

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Howard Jacobson, Supply Chain Engagement Manager, Business Wales; Richard Dooner, Programme Manager, Welsh Local Government Association; and Grahame Steed, Director of Public Policy and Research, BiP Solutions and Event Organiser at Procurex Wales. They discuss the potential impact of the Procurement Act 2023 on SMEs, challenges facing buyers and suppliers, how procurement can drive public service improvement, economic regeneration and social value, as well as the upcoming Procurex Wales event.