Commercial and Procurement Directorate: useful resources
The Commercial and Procurement Directorate leads the Welsh Government’s approach to procurement and commercial delivery across Wales.
Reporting to the Cabinet Minister for Finance, we:
- lead the professional procurement community in Wales, including facilitating the Procurement Leadership Board for Wales
- shape procurement policy and legislation providing strategic advice to ministers.
- support the Welsh public sector with tools that help maximise value for Wales.
- manage collaborative frameworks that deliver value, sustainability, and social impact.
Policy and legislation
The Welsh Government’s Commercial and Procurement Policy (Legislation) team leads the development and implementation of procurement legislation in Wales. The team works collaboratively across government and with wider public sector partners to support the delivery of procurement reform, develop legislation and guidance, and ensure the effective implementation of legislative requirements. The team is responsible for supporting the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023, the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, and other legislation that underpins public procurement in Wales.
The legislation governing public procurement in Wales has changed. To find out more about procurement legislation, visit Smarter public procurement in Wales.
Contact: ProcurementReformTeam@gov.wales
The Welsh Government’s Commercial and Procurement Policy team leads the evolution of procurement policy advice, sets standards and monitors outcomes against delivery. The team supports the delivery of socially responsible procurement and promotes best practice across the Welsh public sector.
Contact: CommercialPolicy@gov.wales
Wales Procurement Policy Statement
The Wales Procurement Policy Statement (WPPS) sets the strategic vision for public sector procurement in Wales, embedding the principles of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 to ensure procurement delivers long-term social, economic, environmental, and cultural value through collaborative and sustainable practices:
Welsh Procurement Policy Notes (WPPNs)
WPPNs are advisory documents issued by the Welsh Government. They provide guidance to public sector contracting authorities in Wales on procurement practices, helping them align with key procurement legislation:
Project Bank Accounts (PBAs)
Project Bank Accounts are ring-fenced accounts used to ensure fair and prompt payments directly to supply chain members. They reduce the risk of late or non-payment and improve cash flow, ultimately contributing to a more resilient supply chain.
To see how PBAs work and for more information, visit our website.
Capability, engagement and Wales Procurement Review Unit
This branch plays a vital role in enabling the work of the Welsh Government Commercial and Procurement Directorate (CPD). The branch focuses on building capability, strengthening engagement and supporting effective procurement practice and compliance through the Wales Procurement Review Unit (WPRU).
Capability
The Capability team supports the long-term development of the Welsh procurement profession by providing tools, training, and coordination to build skills and strengthen delivery across the public sector. The team helps ensure procurement functions are well-equipped to meet current and future demands, while promoting consistency and best practice.
Cyd Cymru
Cyd Cymru is the collaborative space for procurement and commercial communities and the centre of excellence where professionals can learn and support each other in Wales.
Cyd is home to Wales public procurement Community of Practice, Cydweithio. A practitioner-led network facilitated by Cyd to support peer learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration across Wales. Members can connect with colleagues from different organisations, participate in discussions and events, access practical resources, and help shape future community activity.
Commercial, Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship
The Commercial, Procurement and Supply Apprenticeship is designed to build core capability across Welsh Government and the wider public sector. It offers a structured pathway for developing procurement professionals, combining practical experience with accredited learning through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).
Whether you're looking to upskill existing staff or attract new talent into commercial roles, this apprenticeship supports teams in delivering smarter, more sustainable procurement outcomes.
Find out more about the Procurement Apprenticeship here.
Contract management
The Contract Management Capability Programme supports public sector teams in strengthening their approach to managing contracts effectively. Developed by the Government Commercial Function, it provides practical tools, guidance, and training to help teams maximise value, manage risk, and build stronger supplier relationships.
The programme is suitable for both new and experienced contract managers and aligns with best practice standards across government.
Find out more about the capability programme here.
To find out more about funded opportunities, e-mail: CommercialCapbaility@gov.wales
Corporate Award Programme
The CIPS Corporate Award Programme is a programme that forms part of the Welsh Government’s capacity and capability programme. It aims to:
- Provide staff with professional development opportunities
- Support procurement professionals of the future
- Reduce the capacity issues faced across the profession
- Raise the profile of procurement in Wales.
Find out more about the Corporate Award Programme here.
Learning and development prospectus
Our prospectus brings together a range of carefully selected learning opportunities, to help aid you in your professional development, and on your procurement and commercial journey. The learning and development prospectus is available here.
Professional career and workforce development
People are at the heart of delivering better procurement outcomes. Building a skilled, capable and sustainable procurement workforce enables organisations to maximise social, economic and environmental benefits, create greater public value and support stronger communities across Wales.
To support this ambition, three professional career and workforce development guides have been developed to help attract new talent into the profession, support professional development and accreditation, and strengthen workforce capability and capacity across the Welsh public sector.
Achieving Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) in Wales: A guide for learners
Professional development and recognised qualifications are essential to building procurement capability. This guide brings together the routes available in Wales to achieve MCIPS (Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply), the internationally recognised professional standard for procurement practitioners.
Designed for both learners and employers, the guide helps individuals identify the pathway that best aligns with their experience, qualifications and career aspirations, while supporting organisations to develop professionally qualified procurement teams.
What the guide covers:
- Commercial, Procurement and Supply Apprenticeships (Wales)
- CIPS Professional Qualifications
- CIPS Corporate Award Applied Learning Programme
- CIPS Accredited Degree Programmes
- CIPS Management Entry Route
Whether you are starting your procurement career, building on existing experience or working towards professional accreditation, this guide provides a clear overview of the routes available to achieve MCIPS.
Career information guide: A career in procurement
Procurement offers a rewarding and impactful career with a range of accessible entry routes, including apprenticeships, degree programmes and graduate opportunities, the profession provides diverse pathways for new entrants.
This guide is designed for:
- School leavers and students exploring future career options
- Careers advisers supporting individuals to understand opportunities within the profession
- Teachers, parents and guardians seeking information about procurement career pathways
Whether you are considering a career in procurement or supporting someone to make informed career choices, this guide provides an introduction to the profession, the skills required and the routes available to get started.
Employers' guide to student placements
Student placements are an effective way to develop future talent, strengthen workforce capacity and build a sustainable pipeline of procurement professionals. They provide students with valuable workplace experience while enabling organisations to benefit from fresh perspectives, new skills and emerging talent.
This guide provides practical advice for employers on planning, recruiting and supporting student placements within commercial and procurement teams.
Stakeholder engagement
The Stakeholder Engagement team leads the development and delivery of CPD’s engagement strategy, communications, and events. This includes managing high-profile activities such as Procurex Wales, ensuring meaningful connections with stakeholders across the Welsh public sector and beyond.
Wales Procurement Review Unit
The Wales Procurement Review Unit (WPRU) supports procurement oversight in Wales by promoting compliance with procurement legislation, safeguarding the integrity of public procurement, and helping to protect public bodies from unacceptable supplier risk. Established alongside the commencement of the Procurement Act 2023, the WPRU supports continuous improvement across the Welsh public sector through three core services:
- Procurement Feedback Service (PFS): available to suppliers who wish to raise concerns or seek clarification about a specific procurement, contract or framework under the Procurement Act 2023. By engaging with the service, suppliers help identify opportunities for learning and improvement across public procurement in Wales.
- Procurement Compliance Service (PCS): available to anyone wishing to raise concerns about a Welsh contracting authority’s compliance with the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023 or the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023. The PCS aims to improve the practices of contracting authorities for the benefit of all involved in public procurement by ensuring compliance with the new procurement rules, and monitoring trends to address persistent breaches.
- Exclusions and Debarment Service (EDS): available for relevant contracting authorities to notify Welsh Ministers when they exclude a supplier from a procurement. This service helps to safeguard public procurement in Wales by assessing whether suppliers meet the statutory exclusion criteria under the Procurement Act 2023 and, where appropriate, referring cases to a Minister of the Crown for consideration of inclusion on the UK debarment list.
Further information
Find out more about WPRU services, scope and remit, guidance and referral routes on the Wales Procurement Review Unit.
Procurement delivery
This branch within the Commercial and Procurement Directorate brings together the former Corporate Procurement Services (CPS) and Commercial Delivery teams. It is responsible for delivering Welsh Government specific procurement, alongside a wider programme of collaborative agreements for the Welsh public sector.
Working in partnership with Welsh Local Government and other public sector bodies, we have developed the Wales Collaborative Procurement Pipeline, which contains over 31 agreements for use across the Welsh public sector.
Our framework brochure provides all the information you need to access these agreements.
Our teams
The Procurement Delivery branch operates across the following categories:
Professional services and research
This category covers the procurement of expert consultancy, legal, financial, and research services that support evidence-based policy-making and strategic decision-making across the Welsh public sector.
Contact: CommercialProcurement.ProfessionalServices@gov.wales
People and corporate services
Focused on sourcing HR services, training and development, recruitment, occupational health, and other internal corporate support services that enable effective workforce and organisational management.
Contact: CommercialProcurement.PeopleCorproate@gov.wales
Construction and facilities
Encompasses the procurement of construction works, building maintenance, facilities management, and estate-related services to support safe, sustainable, and efficient infrastructure.
Contact: CommercialProcurement.Buildings@gov.wales
ICT
Covers the procurement of digital and technology solutions, including software, hardware, cloud services, and IT consultancy, to support digital transformation and operational resilience.
Contact: ICTProcurement@gov.wales
Fleet, logistics and utilities
Focuses on the procurement of fleet vehicles, including electric vehicle initiatives, transport and logistics services, fuel, energy, and utilities, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and value for money.
Contact: CommercialProcurement.Fleet@gov.wales / CommercialProcurement.Utilities@gov.wales
Implementation and governance
This team supports procurement governance and assurance activities and policy implementation, ensuring that procurement practices align with legislative and strategic objectives.
Contact: CommercialProcurement.Delivery@gov.wales
Digital and data
Welsh Government’s digital and data team provides a suite of digital tools to support the Welsh public sector through stages of their procurement journey.
The tools include:
eTenderWales
eTenderWales is an eSourcing tool provided by Jaggaer, available to Welsh public sector organisations. It forms part of a suite of tools that support workflows, tendering, evaluation, contract management, and supplier performance. The platform allows suppliers to submit tender opportunities securely, access tender documents easily, return tenders through a protected system, and raise queries transparently throughout the tender process.
Visit etenderwales: e-tendering portal
To access training:
- Click on your user profile
- Select Help
- Click the Sourcing+ tile and choose a topic
Dunn and Bradstreet (D&B) finance analytics
D&B Finance Analytics is a flexible and easy-to-use credit management solution.
Training resources are available within the platform. To access training:
- Click the Finance Analytics tile
- Click the question mark icon on the home page
- Select Training Resources and search for relevant topics
Please register for the D&B Customer community site. Here you can find answers to key questions and raise a case for issues such as password resets. We encourage users to share their tips and tricks on the community pages.
AWARD (Commerce Decisions)
AWARD, developed by Commerce Decisions, is an evaluation and decision-making platform used in procurement to support robust, auditable evaluations and helps ensure fairness, consistency, and value for money in supplier selection.
Training is available through the built-in Knowledge Base.
To access training:
- Log in and click Help and Guidance on the top bar
- Browse or search for the required topic or article
Purchase Cards (Barclaycard)
Purchase cards are provided by Barclaycard for Welsh public sector organisations to use in their procurement activities. Each organisation has individual agreements with Barclaycard.
Visit the Barclaycard Purchase Cards Website
Contact: DigitalProcurementTools@gov.wales