Digital Innovation Hub for Public Sector Procurement

The government is developing a digital platform to improve how public sector organizations buy innovative solutions. Currently, public sector procurement is slow and risk-averse, making it difficult for buyers to find and test new ideas, and hard for suppliers—especially small businesses and startups—to understand what's needed and break into the market. The Commercial Innovation Hub will create an online space where public sector buyers and innovative suppliers can meet, discuss challenges, test ideas, and collaborate before formal procurement begins. This reduces risk and creates clearer pathways to doing business. The platform will include features such as: - Sandbox areas for testing ideas safely - Supplier directories and networking spaces - Noticeboards and document repositories - Chat and collaboration tools - Links to the formal Innovation Marketplace for procurement The Hub aims to: - Make it easier for public sector teams to find and engage with innovative suppliers - Lower barriers to entry for SMEs, startups, and diverse suppliers - Allow buyers and suppliers to test and refine problems and solutions together before formal procurement - Support faster, more commercially viable routes to scaling solutions Ideal participants include public sector buyers, commercial teams, policy specialists, SMEs, startups, and larger suppliers willing to partner with innovators. Note: This is early market engagement. The government is not obligated to proceed with a full procurement and participants will not be reimbursed for involvement.