Practical Procurement Consultancy Solutions
Procurement that Delivers Value, Accountability and Social Impact
Procurement consultancy services provide the expertise and independence organisations need to run compliant, effective and value-driven procurement processes. At Thornton & Lowe, we specialise in supporting the public sector, housing providers and charities. Our approach ensures that procurement is not just about compliance but about securing stronger supplier performance, better value for money and measurable social value.
What Procurement Consultancy Services Involve
Procurement consultancy covers everything from designing tender processes to managing supplier relationships once a contract is in place. It is about giving organisations the extra capacity and independent oversight needed to ensure procurement achieves real outcomes.
Our services include:
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Designing compliant tender processes.
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Supporting evaluations and supplier selection.
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Embedding measurable social value requirements.
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Providing independent contract administration.
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Reviewing supplier performance and ensuring delivery.
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Click hereIn-House vs Independent Procurement Consultancy
Many organisations attempt to handle procurement internally but lack the capacity or expertise to manage the process fully. Independent procurement consultancy brings additional benefits:
Aspect | In-House Procurement | Independent Procurement Consultancy (Thornton & Lowe) |
|---|---|---|
Capacity | Often limited, with overstretched teams | Extra resource without permanent hires |
Compliance | Risk of gaps in knowledge or outdated practice | Up-to-date expertise on the Procurement Act 2023 and sector rules |
Value for Money | Focus may be only on cost | Full analysis of quality, cost and long-term outcomes |
Social Value | Can be hard to measure or enforce | Designed into tenders and monitored throughout delivery |
Supplier Oversight | Limited monitoring after award | Independent contract administration and reporting |
This comparison shows why independent consultancy is often the safer and more effective choice, especially for public bodies, housing providers and charities.
Public Sector Procurement Consultancy
Public sector bodies face scrutiny on every pound they spend. Regulations require transparency, fairness and measurable outcomes.
Thornton & Lowe provide public sector contract management solutions that combine procurement consultancy with supplier performance management and contract administration. We help councils, NHS trusts, schools and other public organisations design procurement frameworks that are compliant while also delivering efficiency and measurable social value.
Charities and Third Sector Procurement
Charities must often demonstrate value for money to trustees, regulators and funders. Many also deliver services under public contracts, which means they must comply with procurement law.
Our charities procurement and value for money consultancy provides tailored support. This includes structuring tenders that balance compliance with simplicity, reviewing supplier submissions and monitoring delivery to ensure contracts meet both operational and social impact goals.
Social Housing Procurement
Housing associations and registered providers manage contracts that directly affect residents’ lives. From estate services to new development frameworks, procurement shapes both financial performance and tenant satisfaction.
Through our housing association procurement, compliance and value for money service, we help providers run transparent tenders, select suppliers fairly and hold contractors accountable. Procurement in housing is not just about price but also about delivering consistent service quality, community outcomes and strong compliance.
Procurement and Contract Administration
One of the biggest challenges in procurement is ensuring that suppliers deliver once a contract is awarded. Promises made at bid stage do not always translate into reality.
Thornton & Lowe close this gap by combining procurement consultancy with contract administration services. As independent contract administrators, we certify payments, monitor KPIs, review compliance and report openly to boards and stakeholders. This impartial oversight reassures clients and ensures value for money and social value commitments are implemented.
Benefits of Using Thornton & Lowe
Working with us provides clear advantages:
- Independent expertise rooted in public sector, housing and charities.
- Extra capacity without the cost of building larger in-house teams.
- Compliance with procurement law and assurance against challenge.
- Supplier accountability through contract administration.
- Real delivery of value for money and social value outcomes.
FAQs About Procurement Consultancy Services
What do procurement consultants do?
They design and run procurement processes, ensuring compliance, supporting supplier selection and providing independent oversight of delivery.
Why use procurement consultancy services?
They provide expertise, independence and capacity. For many clients this means tenders that stand up to audit, contracts that deliver better results and clear evidence of value for money.
Do procurement consultancy services include helping companies bid and win tenders?
Yes. At Thornton & Lowe we are also a supply chain consultancy. Alongside our buyer-side services, we support suppliers through our bid writing services, helping them prepare strong tender responses and increase their success rates.
What sectors does Thornton & Lowe specialise in?
We focus on public sector, social housing and charities. Our approach combines procurement consultancy, contract management and independent administration.
How is procurement consultancy different from contract management?
Procurement consultancy focuses on the sourcing process and supplier selection. Contract management takes over once the contract is awarded. At Thornton & Lowe, we provide both, giving continuity from tender through to delivery.
Talk to Us
Procurement consultancy is not just about running a compliant process. It is about protecting budgets, ensuring fairness, holding suppliers accountable and delivering value for communities.
Thornton & Lowe provide sector-specific expertise and independent support that ensures procurement works in practice, not just on paper.
Contact our team today to discuss how our procurement consultancy services can strengthen your organisation.
