New IWFM good practice guide puts procurement centre stage 

News

Procurement is one of the most important activities in workplace and facilities management. It influences service quality, organisational performance, compliance, sustainability outcomes and, ultimately, the experience of workplace users. Yet many workplace and facilities management professionals are expected to lead or contribute to procurement exercises without access to practical guidance tailored to our sector. 

To help address that challenge, IWFM has launched Procurement: A Good Practice Guide for Workplace and Facilities Managers – it's available now.

The fully updated guide provides a practical framework for managing the entire procurement lifecycle, from developing a business case and engaging stakeholders to market testing, tendering, supplier evaluation, contract award and mobilisation. Designed by practitioners for practitioners, it combines strategic guidance with practical checklists. ,and recommendations and decision-making tools that can be applied immediately, allowing readers to dip into the areas most relevant to their procurement responsibilities. 

As organisations face growing pressure to deliver greater value, manage risk effectively and meet increasingly ambitious sustainability and social value objectives, procurement is becoming a more strategic discipline than ever before. The guide encourages a shift away from procurement based primarily on cost and towards a value-driven approach that supports long-term organisational success and stronger client-supplier relationships. 

IWFM’s Head of Research and Insight, Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, said: 'Procurement decisions can have long-lasting consequences for organisations, workplaces and service providers alike. This guide is designed to help workplace and facilities managers both inform, and make informed, decisions that deliver value, support good governance and create the foundations for successful service partnerships.' 

The publication also examines key developments shaping procurement practice, including the Procurement Act 2023, responsible procurement, SME participation, risk management, sustainability and social value. 

Whether undertaking a major outsourcing project, re-tendering an existing contract or reviewing current procurement processes, the guide offers authoritative support grounded in the real world of workplace and facilities management. 

Members can download Procurement: A Good Practice Guide for Workplace and Facilities Managers and gain practical insight into delivering fairer, more effective and more value-focused procurement outcomes. 

For non-members, the guide is available to buy at £65.