Procurement as a launchpad for growth: In conversation with Rikesh Shah

<p>The government spends nearly £430 billion a year on public procurement, or around 15% of GDP.  In this episode Suzannah Brecknell speaks to Rikesh Shah, chair of the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre, about how government can use procurement as a genuine strategic lever for innovation – and why that&#39;s a challenge for the whole civil service, not just procurement teams.</p><p>Rikesh sets out what innovation in procurement actually means in practice, why engaging the market early is essential, and the opportunities presented by NISTA’s £718bn infrastructure pipeline. He also tackles the cultural barriers head-on, with practical examples of how taking a calculated risk on innovation generated significant returns at Transport for London.</p><p>Hosted by Suzannah Brecknell, Editor-in-Chief, Civil Service World. Recorded and produced by Podot.</p><p><strong>Links mentioned in this episode:</strong></p><p>Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre: <a href="https://cp.catapult.org.uk/project/innovation-procurement-empowerment-centre/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://cp.catapult.org.uk/project/innovation-procurement-empowerment-centre/</a></p><p>To share your procurement challenges with IPEC&#39;s cohort programme, email: contact@ipec.org.uk</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>