Procuring Well in an Ever Demanding Landscape
What the post-PA23 environment means in practice for tendering, supplier oversight and long-term value
In a more demanding procurement landscape, a strategic approach matters more than ever. For schools and trusts, procurement is no longer just about compliance or process. In the post-PA23 environment, leaders need to think more carefully about tendering, specification, contract set-up, supplier oversight and long-term value. This session explores what that looks like in practice, and how a broader commercial approach can help organisations strengthen contract performance, manage risk more effectively and secure better outcomes over time.
In this session we explore
• What the post-PA23 procurement environment means in practice for tendering, flexibility and oversight
• Strategic approaches to procurement and contract management in schools and trusts
• How to strengthen specification, supplier oversight and contract performance
• Defining and monitoring performance beyond headline KPIs
• Strengthening commercial relationships while maintaining challenge and accountability
• Identifying and mitigating contractual and commercial risk before it becomes costly or disruptive
• Building stronger internal capability to support better procurement outcomes
Take home points
• A clearer understanding of what a more strategic procurement approach looks like in practice
• Practical ways to strengthen supplier oversight, reduce risk and improve contract performance
• Greater confidence in taking a broader commercial view, not just a compliance-led one
This session is for
CFOs, COOs, procurement leads, contract managers, school business leaders, operations leads and trust central teams involved in buying, tendering, supplier oversight and commercial decision-making.
Victoria Lawson
About the speaker:
Known for her relational, partnership-based style, Victoria is an Education Business Manager where she works with schools, academies and colleges to deliver smarter procurement, stronger contract management, and better value from every pound spent.
Before moving into procurement, Victoria spent nearly 20 years working in schools, including in senior leadership roles. As a former teacher and safeguarding lead, she understands the complex pressures schools face — and the need for practical, trustworthy support that eases workload, not adds to it.
This real-world experience underpins her approach: solving problems, not just processes. Victoria brings together her understanding of school life with deep procurement expertise to help school business leaders simplify compliance, reduce risk and make confident decisions.