We welcome the publication of The Framework Practice Guide

Last week the Government published The Framework Practice Guide. It sets out what's expected of centralised procurement authorities, the organisations setting up frameworks, and the public sector buyers using them.  

As a Centralised Procurement Authority ourselves, we welcome its direction. Here we explore what it means for our customers, and what we’re doing to support good framework procurement through everything we do.  

SEC was founded in 2005 and is now owned by 65 local authorities and housing associations. As a member-owned Contracting Authority and not-for-profit procurement body our focus has always been the same: to help the housing sector procure well, strengthen its contracts, and get better outcomes for residents.  

Much of what's in the Guide is already how we work. This includes: 

• being transparent, 
• engaging properly with the market, 
• managing frameworks responsibly,
• keeping access fair, and 
• putting value back into member benefits like social value, training and business support. 

Supporting better procurement 

Frameworks work well because they bring buyers together and put their collective buying power to work. 

Our focus on housing, and our strong presence across the South East, means we understand buying patterns, market demand, and the pressures facing clients and suppliers alike. 

Many of our frameworks bring clients and suppliers together to share what they're seeing – this includes conversations around market pressures, supply chain issues, emerging risks and good practice. We pass that intelligence back to members through reports, meetings and events, so they can make better-informed decisions. 

Transparent fees and practical support 

The Guide highlights the importance of transparency with fees and levies. 

Our levy structure has always been clear: fixed rates that reduce as contract values increase, so every organisation using our frameworks is treated fairly and consistently. We charge based on actual contract values as delivery happens, not estimated future spend, so members aren't paying upfront for programmes that might not go ahead. 

Competitive levy rates shouldn't mean less support. Alongside our procurement solutions, we offer practical, end-to-end help – from managing procurement activity to cost model evaluation, contract drafting, and specification and document development where it's needed. 

Members also help shape new frameworks as we build them, so what we bring to market reflects what's actually needed and cuts out unnecessary duplication further down the line. 

Reinvesting for public benefit 

The Guide recognises that income from frameworks should cover the cost of running them well and employing the right people to do it. 

Because we're not-for-profit and member-owned, any surplus goes back into supporting the wider housing sector. Learning and development is where we invest the most. We support people at every stage – those entering the sector, established professionals, and future leaders – and have helped develop over 100 Next Generation Leaders, many of whom now hold senior roles across housing associations and local authorities. 

With budgets under real pressure across the sector, that investment in people matters more than ever. 

Supporting healthy markets 

The Guide places a lot of weight on healthy, informed and accessible markets. 

We shape our procurement solutions through real market engagement. We think carefully about market structure, supplier capacity, and what buyers actually need. Many of our frameworks are available nationally, but we're proud of staying regionally rooted. Our concentration across the South East gives us a genuine feel for local market conditions and helps us spot trends in buying behaviour and demand early. 

We keep building on this market insight, bringing suppliers together regularly to talk through pressures and opportunities, and sharing what we learn with members. We also run a programme of free events throughout the year covering best practice, innovation and the biggest challenges facing housing. 

Continuous improvement 

We see the The Framework Practice Guide as another step forward for standards across public procurement. Alongside initiatives like the Gold Standard, it gives procurement organisations a useful benchmark to test and improve against. 

For us, that means building on what already works while staying open to challenge, change, and new ways of delivering more value for members and the sector. 

As we enter a new five-year strategic period, our ambition is clear: 

"A stronger, more confident housing sector – powered by great procurement." 

We'll keep working closely with members, suppliers and partners to improve our services and develop support that responds to what the housing sector actually needs. Our focus stays firmly on great procurement, strong partnerships, and better outcomes for the communities our members serve. 

If you'd like to speak to us about this in more detail, we're here and happy to help. Please email our Director of Strategic Partnerships, David Smith - david.smith@southeastconsortium.org.uk.