British Manufacturers Explore University Supply Chains in Made in Britain Forum

Higher Education Procurement Spotlight: UKUPC and Made in Britain Host Strategic Forum

Made in Britain organized an exclusive online forum for British manufacturers with the UK Universities Procurement Consortia (UKUPC) to get important insight into and engage with procurement processes in the UK's Higher Education Institutions. UKUPC consists of a partnership of eight regional consortia that has been instrumental in providing the support of collaborative procurement in both Higher and Further Education, with many of the major universities in England as part of that partnership.

Further, it was highlighted in the session that the UK universities spend over £10 billion together in a year for goods, works, and services, out of which about £Made in Britain organized an exclusive online forum for British manufacturers with the UK Universities Procurement Consortia (UKUPC) to get important insight into and engage with procurement processes in the UK's Higher Education Institutions. UKUPC consists of a partnership of eight regional consortia that has been instrumental in providing the support of collaborative procurement in both Higher and Further Education, with many of the major universities in England as part of that partnership.

Further, it was highlighted in the session that the UK universities spend over £10 billion together in a year for goods, works, and services, out of which about £2 billion passes through the established framework agreements of the UKUPC. This indicates that there are numerous chances to supply services and products to customers across a variety of sectors, all of them being UK-based suppliers. This was one of the sessions of the ongoing supply chains support program by Made in Britain, intending to enable university-industry partnerships in British manufacturing in education.

This session was moderated by George Middleton, Advisor to Made in Britain and Director at MAP UK & International, and it contained some of the core themes as follows:

• An overview of UKUPC and consortia members

• Current purchasing needs and relevant product categories

• Academic procurement strategy guidance used by universities and tips for navigating it

• Insights into the procurement pipeline and upcoming opportunities

More than 60 companies registered to attend, with participants actively engaging in discussions, raising questions about supplier registration, access to framework agreements, and how to supply niche products to universities and colleges. The event highlighted how UK universities come together to procure and how businesses could link their supply chain management practice with university formats.

The regional consortia from where the supplier had to register were:

• North West Universities Purchasing Consortium

• Southern Universities Procurement Consortium

• London Universities Purchasing Consortium

• Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (Scotland)

• The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO)

These forms the mother tongue of university procurement partnerships through which institutions can as "efficiently" as possible procure goods and services while ensuring compliance of high and value standards.

In addition to this, the Environmental & Social Value Certification, to be introduced in conjunction with MAP UK & International, was showcased. This ESV Certification is designed especially for Made in Britain member companies mainly SMEs as this is low-cost and applicable (£390 excluding VAT) and practically suitable to showcase a positive difference for alignment with UK procurement priorities. ESV framework moves – even globally from businesses with UK operations – resonate with words and metrics to engage their audience in the public sector and standards of collaboration in the education sector.

Anyone who wants to pursue academic procurement opportunities or skills through the Higher Education Institutions is encouraged to contact Made in Britain directly with trade@madeinbritain.org. Resources including slides, links from the session, and guidance on how to access future events and support programmes will be available on request. This session added to previous engagements with some of the biggest public sector buyers, such as NHS Supply Chain, Babcock, NATO, Leidos, the Cabinet Office and Crown Commercial Service, thus reinforcing Made in Britain's growing role in the higher education scene and its continued support for strategic collaboration with university supply chain management.

Editor’s Note:

Made in Britain recently hosted a dedicated online forum in collaboration with the UK Universities Procurement Consortia (UKUPC), offering British manufacturers,particularly SMEs,strategic insight into procurement processes across the UK’s Higher and Further Education sectors. UKUPC, comprising eight regional consortia, plays a central role in facilitating collaborative procurement for many leading universities in England. With a combined annual spend exceeding £10 billion, and approximately £2 billion channelled through UKUPC’s framework agreements, the session highlighted the scale and accessibility of opportunities available to UK-based suppliers across a wide range of sectors. This engagement formed part of Made in Britain’s ongoing supply chains support programme, aimed at strengthening university–industry partnerships and promoting British manufacturing in education.

The session was moderated by George Middleton, Advisor to Made in Britain and Director at MAP UK & International, and covered key themes including an introduction to UKUPC and its members, current purchasing needs, academic procurement strategies, and insights into upcoming opportunities. Over 60 businesses participated, raising practical questions around supplier registration, framework access, and how to supply niche or specialist products to universities and colleges. The discussion also explored how businesses can align their supply chain practices with university procurement formats and compliance standards, offering a clearer pathway for engagement with Higher Education Institutions.

In addition to procurement guidance, the session introduced the Environmental & Social Value (ESV) Certification, developed in collaboration with MAP UK & International. Designed specifically for Made in Britain member companies, the certification offers a low-cost, practical route for SMEs to demonstrate positive impact and align with UK public sector procurement priorities. The ESV framework uses language and metrics tailored to resonate with education sector collaboration standards, helping businesses,whether UK-based or part of global operations—gain a competitive edge while contributing to national goals. Attendees were encouraged to contact Made in Britain for further resources, including slides, registration links, and access to future events.

Skoobuzz emphasises that this session reinforced Made in Britain’s commitment to enabling structured, long-term collaboration between UK manufacturers and academic procurement teams. By offering practical tools, strategic insight, and direct access to procurement networks, it marked a meaningful step towards more inclusive and impact-driven university supply chains.

FAQs

1.What is the UK Universities Procurement Consortia (UKUPC)?

UKUPC is a strategic partnership of eight regional consortia that supports collaborative procurement across Higher and Further Education institutions in the UK, including many leading universities in England.

2.How do UK universities collaborate on procurement?

Through UKUPC’s framework agreements, universities pool resources and purchasing power to streamline procurement processes, ensure compliance, and secure value across a wide range of goods and services.

3.What was the focus of the Made in Britain online session with UKUPC?

The session provided British manufacturers with insights into university procurement practices, product categories in demand, registration processes, and upcoming supply opportunities within the education sector.

4.Which UK universities are part of the procurement consortia?

Member institutions are represented through regional consortia such as the North West Universities Purchasing Consortium, Southern Universities Procurement Consortium, London Universities Purchasing Consortium, and Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (Scotland), among others.

5.How can businesses engage with university procurement teams?

Companies can register with the relevant regional consortia, align their offerings with framework requirements, and participate in supplier engagement sessions to access procurement opportunities in Higher Education.

6.What role does Made in Britain play in higher education supply chains?

Made in Britain facilitates connections between UK manufacturers and public sector buyers, including universities, by hosting forums, offering certification schemes, and supporting strategic supply chain development.