Hey there👋

Want to join the UK’s top productivity performers?
With only 29.1% of UK workers operating in high-productivity firms, the potential to break into the elite is enormous. Whether it’s through tech investment, process streamlining, or value creation, the route to success is within reach.

💡 Good to Know

Innovate Essex, is a purposeful 5-hour workshop on January 22, 2025, where local government leaders will come together at ARU Chelmsford to enhance public digital services through collaborative planning and resource sharing.

Here’s an overview of recent developments:

• Workshop Alert: Innovate Essex’s 5-hour event for digital service innovation.

• Daily Spend Watch: £2.08B awarded in healthcare, construction, and IT services.

• Opportunity Picks: £500M PfH retrofit contract, winning strategies inside.

• Stay Secure: Protect from ransomware and digital market risks.

Let’s dive into the details👇

DAILY SPEND WATCH

📊 Public Sector Spending Analysis: Contracts Finder Report January 14, 2025

Today's market reached £2.08B across 274 contracts, with healthcare commanding 42.8% (£892M) of total spend. Construction followed at £614M, while IT services secured £298M.

Market Movement

London maintains 28% market share, though Northern England shows significant growth. SME participation remains robust, particularly in healthcare technology.

Emerging Patterns

Healthcare technology integration leads sector transformation, with average contract values of £3.2M in healthcare tech and £9.6M in construction, indicating diverse market opportunities.

OPPORTUNITY PICKS

£500M PfH Retrofit Opportunity: Transforming Social Housing Efficiency

Opportunity Overview

• Buyer: Procurement for Housing (PfH)

• Contract Value: £500,000,000

• Duration: May 2025 – May 2029

• Industry: Building Installation Works

• Procedure: Open (inclusive of SMEs)

• Deadline: 14 February 2025, 12 PM

💡 Winning Strategies

Position yourself as a transformative partner, not just a supplier. Build your narrative around delivering measurable community impact through sustainability, efficiency, and innovation. Explain how your solution aligns with PfH's mission to optimize procurement for social housing.

Why It Matters: Buyers like PfH value suppliers who align with their vision. You elevate your bid beyond transactional value by tying your capabilities to broader goals like cost efficiency, environmental stewardship, and tenant well-being.

NEWS 

💰 £1.6B to Tackle 7M Potholes

Derbyshire leads with £75M, part of the UK’s massive investment to improve road safety and reduce delays. JCB’s ‘Pothole Pro’ repairs holes in 8 minutes for just £30, 20 councils are already on board.

Experts Call for Long-Term Solutions

Permanent fixes and regular resurfacing save money over endless patch jobs.

🚗 Get involved

Report potholes via GOV.UK or the Stan app and demand lasting repairs!

🔒 Protecting UK Businesses from Ransomware

Ransomware isn’t just a headache, it’s a billion-pound problem! Attacks can cripple hospitals, schools, and businesses, leaving victims locked out until they pay up.

New Government Proposals

• Ban public sector ransomware payments.

• Mandatory reporting of incidents.

• Block ransom payments to criminals.

🛡️ Take Action

Adopt frameworks like Cyber Essentials and test your recovery plans.

🔒 Ensuring Fair Competition in Digital Markets

Google dominates 90% of UK searches and is a major player in advertising, shaping how businesses and public sector organizations reach their audiences. Without fair competition, innovation suffers, costs rise, and data practices may go unchecked.

What’s Happening

CMA investigates Google’s dominance in search and ads, focusing on competition barriers, data ethics, and fair publisher treatment.

🛡️ Next Steps

Diversify ads, push for fair terms, and explore alternative platforms.

TECHNOLOGY

🤖 Fullmoon: Private local LLMs optimized for Apple devices

✨ Shapen: AI-powered image-to-3D model generation platform

 🔄 Reachy: AI-powered LinkedIn automation for personalized outreach

TIP OF THE DAY

🌍 Harnessing AI for Sustainable Procurement

Data Analysis and Insights: Leverage AI to analyze extensive supply chain data, identifying environmental impacts and social risks. This enables informed decision-making that aligns with sustainability goals.

Predictive Analytics: Utilize AI-driven forecasts to anticipate trends and mitigate risks, promoting resource optimization and waste reduction.

Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess supplier performance against sustainability metrics to ensure compliance and drive positive change.

Quick Question!

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