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Cyber's New Battleground: The Great Skills Shift
The UK's cyber sector is booming, but a new report reveals a worrying trend in corporate governance and a surprising new focus for talent and investment.
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Here's the problem: The UK's cyber security sector is growing fast, but a new report highlights that nearly half of all businesses and two-thirds of large businesses experienced a breach or attack in the last year. The data suggests a worrying trend: board-level responsibility for cyber security is actually decreasing, down from 38% of businesses in 2021 to just 27% today. This gap between the growing threat and declining governance is a huge risk.
🔍 Today’s Focus:
Daily Spend Watch: UK construction tenders saw a significant surge, with £725 million in contracts awarded during the first half of September alone.
International View: Germany’s public sector is investing heavily in infrastructure, green energy, and digital services, with high-value contracts concentrated in major urban hubs like Berlin and Munich.
Opportunity Picks: From a £48M catering framework for UK schools to a £613M education support framework in Devon, smart bidding can secure multi-year wins.
News: The UK partners with Palantir for a £1.5B defence AI investment, Panama launches a Green Growth Fund, and a Home Office partnership streamlines public service innovation.
Technology: New AI tools like Gamma 3.0, Capalyze, and YNS are changing how public and private sectors work.
DAILY SPEND WATCH
Construction Contracts | 8–19 Sept 2025
💰 Big Numbers: 147 tenders were recorded, with a total value of over £725 million. This value is heavily influenced by a single, large award.
🏛️ Who's spending: Procurement for Housing awarded a single, huge contract worth £500 million, dominating the total value. Caerphilly, Norwich, and Cardiff councils also made the list of top buyers by value, showing ongoing activity in local government.
🏗️ Top buyers: Beyond the high-value awards, buyers like Balfour Beatty VINCI JV HS2 were active, awarding four contracts. The Isle of Man Government and several NHS trusts also awarded multiple contracts.
📍 Regional insights: Wales, specifically Caerphilly and Cardiff, stood out with high-value awards. The data also showed investment linked to nationwide infrastructure projects, such as those from Network Rail and HS2.
🔍 Your move: The single £500m award is a clear opportunity for subcontracting or supply chain work. Local councils continue to be a source of consistent work. If you focus on civil engineering or rail, monitor the procurement cycles of buyers like Network Rail.
INTERNATIONAL VIEW
PROCUREMENT PULSE: Germany | Sept 15 – Sept 19, 2025
🚧 Infrastructure leads contracts: Construction and engineering projects, including building upgrades and transport infrastructure, represented the majority of contracts, reflecting strong ongoing investment in urban and regional development.
⚡ Energy sector powers high-value awards: Major contracts in renewable energy supply and energy efficiency solutions topped €20M, highlighting Germany’s commitment to sustainable energy and environmental innovation.
💻 Digital transformation on the rise: Significant framework agreements for IT systems maintenance and software development underscore a nationwide push for modernizing public sector digital infrastructure.
🌍 Regional spread with urban focus: Contract awards were concentrated in metropolitan hubs like Berlin, Munich, and Leipzig, alongside substantial regional activity across smaller municipalities driving broad economic participation.
OPPORTUNITY PICKS
This is an open tender from Ormiston Academies Trust for a catering services framework for up to 45 schools. The contract is a 48-month framework agreement, with an estimated total value of £48.3 million across six regional lots. The bid deadline is October 29, 2025.
Winning Strategy: A good strategy is to submit a comprehensive and value-driven bid for the Midlands Region (Lot 3), which is the largest lot. The proposal should demonstrate the ability to manage a large-scale operation while highlighting a bespoke menu plan that focuses on nutritional excellence, local sourcing, and a student engagement program. Since price is not the sole award criterion, a strong focus on quality and community partnership will be a key differentiator.
Devon County Council is establishing an open framework for Independent and Alternative Education Support for children and young people. The estimated total value is £613,990,000. This is a "light touch" open procedure with four lots, and there is no limit on the number of suppliers. The tender deadline is October 17, 2025.
Winning Strategy: With a 100% quality weighting for the award criteria, your proposal must demonstrate exceptional professional ability and a proven track record. Focus your bid on a single lot where you have the strongest evidence of expertise, providing compelling examples of successful educational support and bespoke packages for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is looking for a single contractor to provide lift maintenance services at the British High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya. The contract, valued at £63,000, is an open competition with a technical (60%) and commercial (40%) award weighting. The contract runs for three years with a possible two-year extension. The tender submission deadline is October 8, 2025.
Winning Strategy: With a 60% technical weighting, prioritize a proposal that demonstrates your company's deep expertise in lift maintenance. Your bid must provide a robust, proactive maintenance schedule and a clear, rapid response plan for emergencies. The commercial section should feature a competitive, well-justified pricing structure that aligns with the high level of technical service you are proposing.
Navigate Public Sector with Ease
Doing business with the UK public sector just got easier. PublicSectorExperts cuts through the complexity, providing the insights and guidance your business needs. From procurement strategies to policy advice, their network of professionals ensures you stay ahead. Plus, you’ll enjoy connecting with experts who make it simple and actionable for your success.
NEWS
🚀 Want to turn data into green gold? Panama’s Open Data for Green Growth Fund is offering up to $10K for projects that use public data to boost eco-friendly businesses. Think biodiversity, biotech & ecosystem services. Apply by Oct 6 with a concept note, and you could shape policy, train locals & make spreadsheets cool again. ⏳
💥 The UK just teamed up with Palantir to invest £1.5B in cutting-edge defence AI 🤖. London becomes Palantir’s European HQ, creating 350+ high-skilled jobs while boosting UK start-ups. New AI tools tested in Ukraine will speed military planning, targeting & data use, cementing Britain as NATO’s innovation hub.
🛠️ ACE helped the Home Office boost innovation by tackling blockers and giving staff practical tools. Through readiness assessments, a new toolkit, and a clever “route planner,” teams can now turn small ideas into big service improvements, saving time, money, and sanity while making public services slicker for everyone. 🌟
TECHNOLOGY
Gamma 3.0: AI-powered platform designed to turn your ideas into visually stunning and compelling presentations and other forms of communication.
Capalyze: AI tool that helps businesses gain insights by collecting and analysing data from multiple websites to generate reports and charts.
YNS: fast, Stripe-powered e-commerce platform that allows you to build and launch an online store in minutes using a no-code drag-and-drop builder.
TIP OF THE DAY
💡Address the Client’s Needs
Show how your solution solves their problems.
Use case studies, past performance, and testimonials.
Match your language to the client’s priorities.
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