Public Sector Contracts in the North West

The North West of England is one of the most economically significant and procurement-active regions outside London, anchored by Greater Manchester and Merseyside but extending across Lancashire, Cumbria, and Cheshire. The region has a large and diverse public sector, including the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, two large city councils, multiple district authorities, NHS Greater Manchester, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, and major universities and further education colleges.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is the most devolved regional authority outside London, with powers across transport, housing, economic development, and public health. GMCA operates an active procurement programme and works through its commercial services arm, AGMA Procurement Hub, which develops framework agreements and collaborative purchasing arrangements for Greater Manchester's ten councils. Manchester City Council and Salford City Council both run significant independent procurement programmes.

Merseyside and Liverpool City Region have their own Combined Authority with devolved transport and economic development powers. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority procurement covers transport infrastructure (Merseytravel), economic development, and regional skills programmes. The six councils of the Liverpool City Region each run independent procurement programmes, ranging from Liverpool City Council (one of England's largest unitary authorities) to smaller metropolitan boroughs.

Lancashire County Council, with its large county geography covering 14 district councils, is a major buyer across social care, highways, education, and infrastructure. NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB are large NHS organisations with substantial procurement budgets across clinical services, technology, and estates.