BlueLight Commercial Briefing: Strategic direction and Procurement Act
The session provided an opportunity to gain direct insights from BLC on their internal structure, strategic direction, and the upcoming changes related to the new Procurement Act, which is set to go live in February 2025.
BlueLight Commercial introduction
Stephen Hodgson, Commercial Director of ICT, provided an overview of BLC, which was set up by the Home Office in 2020 to work with emergency services. The main goal of BLC is to improve commercial services by creating a single market access point and a flexible way to manage commercial partnerships.
BLC serves as the National Contracting Authority for the blue light sector, with the goal of providing a single access point to the market and a more agile commercial engagement model. Its membership includes the 43 police forces across England and Wales, as well as several Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies, policing bodies, and fire authorities.
BLC’s operating model is organised around four pillars: Operational Policing, Energy, Estates and Equipment, People and Professional Services, and Information Technology. Stephen and Laura Salmon, Head of Category ICT, lead the Information Technology pillar, overseeing IT development and contracts for national forces, including DLRP and Home Office systems.
In the coming years, BLC anticipates increased spending in IT. To address this, BLC has developed a dedicated IT strategy that seeks to support the policing and fire sectors by offering legal guidance, capability training, and access to market expertise, among other services.
Laura Salmon, Head of Category ICT, explained BLC’s strategic direction and future goals. Following BLC's establishment, they initially focused on Vehicle & Air Support, PPE, and Analytics, then expanded into Revenue & Cost Avoidance within the Estates & Energy pillars. Their efforts then turned to operational impacts, working with individual force consultancies to boost national commercial activity around uniforms and forensics.
The strategic direction aims to achieve three main outcomes: Bottom-Line Impact, Transformation of Commercial Activities, and a Sustainable Future. BLC has also identified six strategic objectives to guide its efforts:
Commercial Excellence – Supporting blue light community members in achieving high standards in commercial activities.
Business Transformation & Consultancy – Offering advisory and consultancy services to assist police and fire services.
Sustainability – Ensuring that all approaches are sustainable over time.
Building Commercial Capability – Strengthening the commercial skills within the blue light sector.
Organisational Development & Effectiveness – Enhancing BLC's own organizational strength and effectiveness.
Maximise Financial and Commercial benefits
BLC aims for national collaboration with locally tailored solutions, focusing on areas where police and fire services require the most support and where BLC can make the greatest impact.
BLC is involved in every stage of the commercial lifecycle, recognising that up to 40% of value is either gained or lost during the Pre-Contract and Contract Management stages. Traditionally, BLC has focused more on the procurement phase, but it now aims to support members across all lifecycle stages. BLC has also established an SSRM Head to assist key suppliers in serving police and fire services.
Pillar Updates – Commercial Activities
Several contracts are transitioning from PDS to BLC, with some procurements currently in progress and others set to launch in the coming months. These initiatives reflect BLC’s expanding scope, with additional contracts from PDS expected to transfer to BLC in the future.
Launched in March 2023, BLC, NPCC, APCC, Home Office and the OPCSA have all signed and agreed to the principles of the Police Industry Charter. The principles focus on the strategic partnership, the open dialogue, the collaboration, return on investment, interoperability, harnessing science and technology, sustainability and supporting that local and national approach.
The number of suppliers that have signed the charter to date is 300. The Charter does not give a competitive advantage to those registered, but it does show a supplier's commitment to working with policing stakeholders and industry to deliver those principles.
Procurement Act overview
The new Act, set to take effect on February 24, 2025, represents a significant shift from the previous EU-based procurement regime, aiming to increase commercial flexibility and foster innovation to ensure that the UK’s £300 billion annual public procurement budget delivers greater value to communities and public services.
Ellie Wilkinson, Head of Commercial Governance & Compliance, explains that the Act will update regulations by consolidating four sets into one, enhancing accountability by enabling the exclusion of underperforming or high-risk suppliers, and increasing transparency across all procurement stages to improve visibility and scrutiny.
The Act introduces measures to support small businesses and social enterprises, including simplified access, better payment terms, and a new 30-day payment requirement for suppliers and subcontractors, along with reporting obligations on a central digital platform. The upgraded Central Digital Platform will include expanded "Find a Tender" functionality and a Supplier Registration System to reduce administrative burdens and enhance visibility into spend data.
BLC is taking a lead role in supporting the sector's transition by providing a learning platform, training, and regular webinars as a central resource for guidance on implementing the new regulations.
If you want more information on the Procurement Act, check this link.
Justice and Emergency Services Programme activities
The techUK Justice and Emergency Services Programme represents tech firms operating in the public safety, criminal justice, and blue light markets. We create strong relationships between members and public sector customers, encouraging industry engagement, and unlocking innovation. Visit the programme page here.
2024 Highlights and 2025 Vision: Reflections and Roadmaps for AI, Skills and Procurement
To wrap up the year, the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme is excited to host an afternoon of insightful fireside chats, powered by the Justice and Emergency Services Management Committee (JESMC).
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Georgie joined techUK as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager in March 2020, then becoming Head of Programme in January 2022.
Georgie leads techUK's engagement and activity across our blue light and criminal justice services, engaging with industry and stakeholders to unlock innovation, problem solve, future gaze and highlight the vital role technology plays in the delivery of critical public safety and justice services. The JES programme represents suppliers by creating a voice for those who are selling or looking to break into and navigate the blue light and criminal justice markets.
Prior to joining techUK, Georgie spent 4 and a half years managing a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) in Westminster. She worked closely with the Metropolitan Police and London borough councils to prevent and reduce the impact of crime on the business community. Her work ranged from the impact of low-level street crime and anti-social behaviour on the borough, to critical incidents and violent crime.
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.
Prior to joining techUK, Cinzia worked in the third and public sectors, managing projects related to international trade and social inclusion.
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.
Before joining the team, she was working at the Magistrates' Courts in legal administration and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2022. Ella attained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics, and a master's degree in International Relations and Security Studies, with a particular interest in studying asylum rights and gendered violence.
In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, watching true crime documentaries, travelling, and making her best attempts to become a better cook.
