CCS SME Action Plan 2025: What It Means for SME Suppliers

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has published a new SME action plan for 2025, setting out how it will remove barriers for smaller suppliers and increase SME participation in public sector contracts over the next 12 to 18 months.

SMEs have traditionally found it harder to access central government opportunities, often feeling that the process was complex, resource-heavy and geared towards larger organisations. This action plan is an important signal that CCS is listening to SME feedback and looking to help smaller suppliers play a bigger role in delivering public services.

Taken alongside wider procurement reform, this document signals that government expects, and needs, more small and medium-sized suppliers in its supply chains. The opportunity is clear, but so is the competition.

This article unpacks what is changing in practical terms and how SME suppliers can respond, with a particular focus on CCS frameworks and how Thornton & Lowe can support your bidding strategy.

Why CCS Matters for SME Suppliers

CCS is the UK’s largest public procurement organisation, providing more than one hundred commercial agreements across estates, corporate and technology categories for public bodies to buy from.

These agreements range from traditional frameworks to Dynamic Purchasing Systems and new Dynamic Markets that sit under the Procurement Act 2023. They are the route through which billions of pounds of public sector spend flows each year.

SMEs are already central to CCS activity. As of mid-2025, around 75% of suppliers on CCS commercial agreements were SMEs, with a growing share of direct spend flowing to them.

For many smaller organisations, the real shift happens when they become a Crown Commercial Service supplier for the first time. That first place on a framework, DPS or Dynamic Market creates access to a pipeline of competitions and direct awards across central government, the NHS, local authorities and wider public bodies.

The most successful CCS framework suppliers tend to treat each agreement as a strategic route to market rather than a one-off bid. They understand how the agreement is structured, where SME-friendly lots sit, and how to convert a place on the framework into real call-off contracts.

That starts with understanding public sector procurement frameworks and their rules, then aligning your capability, case studies and pricing strategy with how buyers will use those frameworks in practice.

When this is done well, CCS agreements can unlock sustained opportunities for business growth, from new geographies to higher value, longer term contracts.

What Has Changed in the CCS SME Action Plan 2025?

According to the official Crown Commercial Service SME action plan, CCS has set out a series of improvement actions for 2025-26 that it believes can be delivered within 12 to 18 months. Many of the actions are based on direct supplier feedback, which shows CCS is not only setting targets for SME participation but also adjusting how it engages with and supports smaller organisations.

These actions are closely aligned with the Procurement Act 2023, which places a duty on contracting authorities to consider SME participation and introduces new procedures and transparency requirements designed to make public procurement more accessible.

Below is a plain-English view of the seven key improvements and how they affect SME suppliers.

1. Better Support to Use the Central Digital Platform

CCS will increase signposting and support to help SMEs understand and use the central digital platform (CDP), the new single online system where UK contracting authorities publish procurement information and where suppliers register their core details.

Official guidance on the Central Digital Platform confirms that it is the gateway for viewing notices and submitting standardised information under the Procurement Act regime.

What this means for SMEs

• Register early, complete your core organisation profile and keep it accurate.
• Align your CDP profile with your CCS framework positioning so buyers see a coherent story.
• Treat CDP alerts as part of your tender pipeline planning, not just an inbox notification.

2. More Transparency on Upcoming CCS Agreements

CCS plans to publish recorded overviews of agreements that are expected to open within six months. These overviews will explain what each agreement is for, the type of commercial vehicle used and where SME-suitable lots are likely to sit.

What this means for SMEs

• Build a CCS-specific pipeline that tracks agreements due to open in the next six to twelve months.
• Decide early which lots are worth the investment and which can be parked.
• Start collecting evidence, partners and case studies in advance instead of rushing once the ITT is live.

3. Regional Government Meet the Buyer events

The plan commits CCS to deliver and support a series of regional Government Meet the Buyer events across cities such as Cambridge, York, London, Bristol, Manchester and Cardiff.

These events will combine CCS, central government buyers, other public bodies and SMEs, with sessions on pipelines, subcontracting and consortia bidding.

What this means for SMEs

• Treat these events as an opportunity to shape your bid strategy by asking focused questions about future demand.
• Use them to explore partnerships, whether as a subcontractor or part of a consortium.
• Capture specific buyer pain points and priorities that you can reflect in future tenders.

4. Ongoing SME Guidance and “Supplier Specifics” Articles

CCS will continue to produce SME-focused content, including its “Supplier Specifics” articles, that explain procurement policy notes, standards and common tender requirements in more accessible terms.

What this means for SMEs

• Build regular CCS reading into your bid team’s routine and use it to refine your bid library.
• Update boilerplate method statements and policies where CCS guidance suggests a shift in emphasis or expectations.
• Share relevant articles with operational teams so that commitments in your bids remain grounded in practical reality.

5. Clearer Explanation of Standard Terms and Conditions

CCS will create guidance on the standard Public Sector Contract terms and conditions and explain how they vary between agreements, so SMEs can navigate them more efficiently during live bids.

What this means for SMEs

• Include contract review as a defined stage in your bid process rather than leaving it to the end.
• Use the guidance to identify genuine risks, negotiation points and mandatory positions before submission.
• Engage legal and commercial support early so questions can be raised within the clarification window.

6. Improving SME Data and Reporting

CCS plans to refine its SME data set, making it easier for buyers to understand how much they spend with SMEs on CCS agreements and where more SME participation is possible.

What this means for SMEs

• Track your own sales and performance across CCS agreements so you can evidence your impact at re-procurement.
• Use performance data to refine win themes and value propositions, particularly around social value and local economic impact.

7. Embedding SME Thinking Across the Procurement Lifecycle

Finally, CCS will continue to improve internal processes so that SME needs are considered at every stage of the procurement lifecycle, from market engagement through to contract management and re-tender.

What this means for SMEs

• Expect more explicit questions about SME participation, innovation and local impact in buyer documentation.
• Look for lots that are designed with SME participation in mind and focus effort where the fit is strongest.
• Assume that quality, compliance and social value standards will remain high, even where SME access is improving.

How This Connects to the Wider Procurement Act Reforms

The CCS SME action plan sits within a much wider change programme. The Procurement Act 2023 introduces new procedures, a single digital platform and a duty to consider SME participation, all with the aim of simplifying competition and reducing unnecessary barriers.

Government has described the resulting new public procurement rules as a way to drive growth, increase opportunities for small businesses and open up access to nearly £400 billion of annual public sector spend.

Thornton & Lowe has already explored the benefits of the Procurement Act for SMEs, including the potential for more SME-friendly procedures, greater transparency and streamlined documentation. When combined with the CCS action plan, this creates a stronger environment for SMEs that are ready to invest in structured bidding.

Practical Steps SMEs Can Take Now

Policy commitments only translate into revenue where suppliers act on them. Below are practical steps that SME bidders can take to position themselves for CCS success.

1. Audit Your CCS Position

Map where you currently interact with CCS:

• Which CCS frameworks, DPSs or Dynamic Markets are you already on, and how much business are you actually doing through them.
• Where the gaps are in your target sectors or regions.
• Which upcoming agreements highlighted by CCS would be a natural next step.

This gives you a realistic baseline before you start building a growth plan.

2. Build a CCS-Focused Tender Pipeline

Use CCS announcements, recorded agreement overviews and CDP alerts to create a rolling 12 to 18-month pipeline of opportunities.

For each opportunity, note the likely timelines, agreement type, lot structure, anticipated buyers and internal effort required. This makes it easier to prioritise and avoid over-stretching a small bid team.

3. Get Your Bid Library Aligned with New Expectations

Review your core bid content in light of CCS guidance and Procurement Act reforms:

• Method statements around mobilisation, contract management and social value.
• Policies that need updating to reflect current standards and regulations.
• Case studies that demonstrate impact through CCS agreements or similar public sector work.

If you are unsure where to start, we can answer your questions around tendering and help you benchmark your current documentation against typical CCS requirements.

4. Strengthen Your Internal and External Bid Capacity

Many SMEs have limited internal bid resource that is stretched across day-to-day operations. To take advantage of the CCS SME action plan, you may need to:

• Clarify internal bid roles and responsibilities.
• Decide which bids you will handle in-house and where external support is appropriate.
• Develop bid skills across the business, not just within a single individual.

A structured relationship with a bid consultancy can also help you to maximise your ROI by focusing your effort on the right opportunities and improving win rates.

How Thornton & Lowe Supports SMEs on CCS Frameworks

At Thornton & Lowe, we work with SMEs across the full CCS lifecycle, from first engagement to long-term growth on live agreements.

Our support typically covers:

• Bid strategy and opportunity selection
  Helping you interpret the CCS SME action plan in the context of your sector, then building a realistic pipeline of CCS frameworks and call-offs.
• Pre-market engagement and Meet the Buyer preparation
  Preparing clear questions, concise capability statements and follow-up plans so you get maximum value from CCS events and early engagement opportunities.
• Bid writing, review and compliance checks
  Drafting and reviewing responses for CCS frameworks and mini competitions, aligning them with buyer evaluation criteria, CCS guidance and Procurement Act requirements.
• Framework mobilisation and contract growth
  Supporting you once you have secured a place, from marketing your framework presence to building relationships with key buyers and partners.

This combination of strategic insight and hands-on bid delivery is designed to help SME suppliers turn policy commitments into contract wins, rather than simply tracking announcements from the sidelines.

Next Steps for SME Suppliers

The updated CCS SME action plan confirms that small and medium-sized enterprises are expected to play a larger role in public sector procurement. The changes will improve visibility of opportunities, provide clearer guidance and help buyers understand where they can do more business with SMEs.

With this new plan, common SME concerns around access to central government bids, complexity and lack of visibility are being recognised, and practical steps are being put in place to help break down those barriers.

The SMEs that benefit most will be those that:

• Understand how CCS agreements fit into the new Procurement Act environment.
• Invest in a structured CCS pipeline and aligned bid library.
• Make the most of Meet the Buyer events, SME guidance and CDP tools.
• Partner with specialists when they need additional capacity or expertise.

If you would like to review your CCS strategy, upcoming framework opportunities or a specific tender, Thornton & Lowe can work with you to shape your approach and support you through the bid process.