Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

Refuse worker collects rubbish along Bournemouth seafront

Procurement

We look at government procurement and how it can be improved.

The government spends around £300bn a year – a third of all public expenditure – on buying in goods and services from outside government. Our research, events and commentary analyse what the money is spent on, who wins contracts, and whether taxpayers are getting good value for money.

We assess where outsourcing works and where it doesn’t, the reasons for this and the impact of government reforms to improve procurement practice. We make recommendations on how to improve the commercial skills of civil servants, the quality of contracting data, and accountability for outsourcing decisions.

Procurement and outsourcing

See all
26 JUN 2020 Report

Managing consultants

Advice from current and former consultants and civil servants for officials on managing consultants in government.

03 MAR 2020 Report

Carillion: two years on

The Johnson government risks another Carillion if it doesn’t get behind the reforms put forward after the firm’s liquidation.

11 DEC 2018 Report

Government procurement

One third of government’s spending is with contractors: last year, four departments spent more than half their budgets with external suppliers.

Insourcing

Recent events

23 SEP 2024 In-person event
23 September 2024

IfG at the Labour Party Conference 2024

Join us in Liverpool for a series of fringe events on industrial strategy, devolution, public services, net zero and more.

Outsourcing and privatisation

What is the difference between outsourcing and privatisation?

Read our explainer
A worker gather supplies at the NHS' National Procurement Warehouse at Canderside, Larkhall

Our procurement team