Procurement Hub

Definition

Procurement Hub is a UK procurement consortium and part of Places for People, one of the largest property management, development and regeneration businesses in the country. It gives public sector and housing sector buyers a compliant route to market through both traditional framework agreements and dynamic purchasing systems. Its published solutions cover major projects, strategic asset management, damp and mould, decarbonisation, construction works, development contractors, fire safety and property works, and it also sells procurement consultancy including tender support and procurement strategy review. It describes itself as one of the fastest growing procurement consortia in the UK.

How it works in practice

The consortium's best known agreement is the Major Projects Framework. The second generation, MPF2, launched in 2022 with a total value of £4.2 billion and three regional lots covering Scotland, England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, supporting schemes across housing, healthcare, education and transport. MPF2 was originally due to expire in 2026. In July 2025 Procurement Hub extended it by two years to 2028, reporting more than £300 million of social value generated since launch. Robertson, Willmott Dixon and Farrans were appointed under the original 2022 award.

For a supplier the practical question is which door to use, because the two routes behave differently. A framework place is won at a single competition covering the whole term and cannot normally be joined partway through, so the agreement's end date is when the next chance arrives and the action is to track the re-tender notice. A dynamic purchasing system is the more useful route for a firm that is not ready today: it has to stay open to new applicants throughout its life, so a supplier that missed the opening round can still apply later and be admitted once it meets the selection criteria. Checking which of the two you are looking at decides whether you wait or apply now.

Buyers should note the usual consortium constraint. An agreement of this kind may only be used by contracting authorities named, or clearly described, in the notice that established it, and the buyer remains the contracting authority for its own call-off and carries the compliance risk. Confirm your organisation is in scope before ordering rather than afterwards.

Common questions

Is Procurement Hub a local authority consortium?

No, and this is the most common misunderstanding about it. Procurement Hub is part of Places for People, a property management, development and regeneration business, which puts it in the housing and property sector rather than in local government ownership. That distinguishes it from council owned consortia such as YPO, ESPO and NEPO, which are owned by their member authorities.

What is the Major Projects Framework?

Procurement Hub's largest agreement. MPF2 launched in 2022 with a total value of £4.2 billion and three regional lots covering Scotland, England and Wales, and Northern Ireland. It was extended in July 2025 to run until 2028, and it covers schemes in housing, healthcare, education and transport.

Can I join a dynamic purchasing system after it has started?

Yes, and that is the main practical difference between a dynamic purchasing system and a framework. A DPS has to stay open to new applicants for its whole life, so a supplier that was not ready at the opening round can apply later and be admitted once it satisfies the selection criteria. A framework closes to new entrants once places are awarded.

Who is allowed to buy through Procurement Hub?

Only contracting authorities named or clearly described in the notice that established the agreement. Check that list before assuming access, because the buyer remains the contracting authority for its own call-off and carries the compliance risk if the agreement does not in fact cover it.