On 25 June 2025, Bloom hosted a landmark parliamentary breakfast reception at the House of Commons: 'The Power of Public Procurement - Delivering Social Value and Unlocking Innovation.' Sponsored by Emily Darlington MP, the event brought together policymakers, digital innovators, procurement specialists, SMEs, and thought leaders to explore how procurement reform can deliver tangible outcomes for communities and small businesses alike.
With over £1.6 million of public sector spend already delivered and 71% of bloom projects awarded to SMEs, this event provided a unique platform to discuss how innovative commissioning can accelerate innovation, deliver social value, and fuel economic growth in the UK.
From Artificial Intelligence to transparency, Key themes of the Day included:
From leveraging artificial intelligence and embracing digital transformation to prioritising transparency and agility, the discussions highlighted the urgent need for procurement systems and processes to be outcomes-led and innovation-ready.
Speakers shared their bold ideas and initiated discussions on:
Reforming procurement policy to prioritise value for money, impact and speed
Unlock SME potential by reducing barriers to entry and levelling up the playing field
Harnessing technology data to support smarter, faster decision making
Delivering measurable social value through a local, ethical and impactful sourcing strategy
Voices from the room
From Complexity to Clarity: A frictionless future for buying
For too long, procurement has been defined by compliance over creativity. Bloom's opening remarks challenged the mindset, championing a simpler, faster, and more transparent model of procurement—one that enables public bodies to commission services with confidence and clarity.
This isn't just about speeding things up; it's about making them more efficient. It's about connecting problem statements with solutions, reducing time to impact and making it easier for the buyers to act with agility without worrying about non-compliance.
Buying on Outcomes, Not Inputs
"People think they want inputs, but really they want solutions to their problems", Adam Jacobs, Bloom Co-Founder.
Bloom is at the forefront, leading an outcomes-based approach that replaces lengthy and detailed specification documents with clear milestones and results agreed upon between the buyer and the supplier.
Inputs like hours worked or roles filled don't guarantee success. What ensures success is that suppliers get paid for the value they deliver, not for how long it takes to deliver it. This creates shared accountability, clear value and real progress.
Adam further added that this idea now feels transformational, but it will soon become the standard.
A level playing field for SME's
"The public sector has struggled to engage with SMEs. At Bloom, we're changing that", David Bailey, Chair.
Bloom works with over 6500 suppliers, 92% of whom are SMEs. We provide real market access and a level playing field for everyone. Buyers can run accelerated procurement processes and kick-start a project in days, not months. A direct award can be made instantly through Bloom's fully managed service if the buyer knows who they want to work with.
Procurement as a force for innovation
"We need to empower public authorities to use procurement as a tool to deliver innovation", Sam Markey, Founder, Recurve.
The spending review and industrial strategy both position procurement as a catalyst for change. It can stimulate markets, solve complex problems, and drive local economies. The whole procurement process can be faster, cheaper and deliver more impact when it's done right. Bloom is providing the platform to do that.
Scaling local innovation
"Amazing things are happening at a local level. We need to scale that nationally.", Johnny Hugill, PUBLIC.
Innovation is everywhere - local councils are pioneering new partnerships, NHS trusts are engaging SMEs, and the results speak for themselves. He emphasised the opportunity for procurement to become a platform of innovation.
Bloom partners with PUBLIC to amplify innovative stories around us, helping them scale nationally. The key is to make it easier to connect buyers and suppliers globally while preserving local accountability and transparency.
Delivering Measurable Social Value
"Social value shouldn't be a bolt-on. It should be built in.", Danielle Aberg, Thrive
Danielle believes that social value is no longer optional, but the implementation is far from easy, especially with the Procurement Act 2023. She reminded us that true social value starts with culture, not checkboxes. She encourages procurement professionals to reward innovation against incumbency and create room for new ideas to thrive.
Bloom has always supported both buyers and suppliers in embedding social value.
Looking Ahead
The event underscores Bloom's commitment to collaborating with partners, the public sector, and suppliers across the industry to create a smarter, faster, and more innovative procurement ecosystem. Get in touch to be part of the change.
