Insights from the GCA SME Meet the Buyer Event: What Public Sector Buyers and SMEs Need Next

I recently attended the GCA SME Meet the Buyer Event – 16th June 2026, bringing together SMEs, public sector buyers, and commercial leaders to discuss how we can create a more accessible, innovative, and effective procurement landscape.

While the event was packed with useful content, one message stood out clearly: most SMEs no longer need convincing about the value of public sector frameworks. What they want is a clearer understanding of what customers are looking for, how to position themselves effectively, and how to overcome the practical barriers that still exist within government procurement.

It’s something we’re seeing more and more in PSR too, the conversation has shifted from access to success. Suppliers aren’t asking how to get onto frameworks, they’re asking how to stand out once they’re there

Moving Beyond Framework Awareness

One of the most valuable parts of the day was hearing directly from suppliers. Many SMEs were already familiar with the process of joining frameworks and participating in competitions. Their questions were less about access and more about success — understanding buyer expectations, writing stronger bids and demonstrating value in a way that resonates with public sector customers.

The panel discussions were particularly effective because they focused on practical advice rather than process. Sharing real-world insights into what makes a compelling bid is often far more valuable than another overview of procurement rules.  That kind of insight is what actually helps suppliers improve outcomes and is how we engage our supply chain at PSR, creating space to share insight, feedback and best practice, particularly for SMEs and underrepresented suppliers, so they’re better equipped to compete.

Innovation Is Becoming a Bigger Priority

A significant theme throughout the event was how government can better engage with innovative suppliers.

There was discussion around the Government Commercial Function’s Commercial Innovation Hub, which is designed to create opportunities for suppliers to bring forward innovative ideas, case studies and potential pilot solutions that could drive efficiency and growth across government.

For organisations like ours, initiatives such as this present an opportunity not only to support suppliers but also to identify emerging solutions that government departments may be looking to adopt. Early engagement with innovation allows us to better understand market trends, strengthen our supplier ecosystem and connect public sector customers with the right expertise at the right time.

The Rise of the Innovation Marketplace

Another development that caught my attention was the innovation marketplace concept, which aims to bring together meet-the-buyer events, dynamic challenge competitions, innovation opportunities and AI-assisted matching between SMEs and prime contractors.

This type of platform has the potential to make collaboration easier and more transparent. By helping innovative SMEs connect with larger delivery partners and government buyers, it could accelerate the adoption of new solutions while expanding opportunities for smaller businesses. It also highlights something important: access alone isn’t enough. Suppliers need visibility, context, and the right connections. That’s where structured supplier management really starts to matter — creating a joined-up view of capability across the supply chain and helping match the right suppliers to the right opportunities at the right time.

For supplier managers and framework operators, these developments provide valuable insight into where government demand is evolving, and which supplier capabilities are likely to become increasingly important.

Reducing Barriers to Entry

The conversation also focused on a challenge that continues to affect SMEs: onboarding.

Discussions referenced ongoing work to reduce barriers to entry and simplify supplier onboarding processes. There was particular interest in “tell us once” approaches that would minimise duplication where suppliers have already completed assurance checks elsewhere in government.

From an SME perspective, reducing repetitive onboarding requirements can remove significant friction from the procurement journey. From a buyer perspective, it creates efficiencies while maintaining confidence in supplier compliance and capability and from my own experience, anything that removes unnecessary complexity opens the door to a broader, more diverse group of suppliers which ultimately strengthens outcomes for customers.

Relationships Still Matter

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the day was that meaningful engagement remains just as important as process.

The strongest value came from conversations with other attendees, public sector colleagues, SMEs, and stakeholders committed to increasing SME participation in government supply chains. The opportunity to share experiences, discuss challenges and build relationships often delivers more impact than any single presentation.

As public sector procurement continues to evolve, we need to ensure that innovation, collaboration, and supplier engagement remain at the heart of the conversation. SMEs continue to play a critical role in delivering innovation and specialist expertise and creating the right environment for them to succeed benefits everyone involved.

The future isn’t simply about getting suppliers onto frameworks. It’s about creating pathways that help great suppliers connect with the right opportunities, reduce unnecessary barriers and bring more innovation into public sector delivery.

This is something we’re continuing to drive at PSR through our Supplier Management Framework. You can read more about how we engage a diverse and collaborative supply chain on our website here.