SMART PROCUREMENT STRATEGIES
guidance from the supplier also helps estates teams respond to changing requirements and maintain standards throughout the contract. Looking at these factors together provides a stronger basis for procurement than purchase price alone. It allows schools to evaluate how effectively a contract will support the estate over time and gives them greater confidence that the chosen system will continue meeting the specification throughout the school year.
Creating healthier learning environments The products chosen through procurement shape the environment pupils and staff experience throughout the school year. Decisions made during the tender process therefore have a lasting influence on the quality of learning spaces.
Indoor air quality has become an increasing consideration within school estates. The cleaning products used throughout a building can influence the quality of the air in enclosed spaces, particularly if they contain higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Choosing lower-emission formulations helps schools maintain high cleaning standards while creating a more comfortable environment for pupils and staff, including those living with asthma or allergies. A knowledgeable supplier should be able to explain why a formulation is suitable for the school and provide clear guidance on its safe use. This turns product selection into a considered decision about the environment the contract will help maintain. Cleaning also influences how a school is experienced. Well-maintained classrooms and shared spaces reflect the care invested in the wider estate, creating environments where pupils can focus on learning and staff can work with confidence. Consistent standards
September 2026
allow that experience to be sustained throughout the contract.
Building sustainability into procurement Procurement also provides schools with an opportunity to strengthen their environmental ambitions through everyday purchasing decisions. The environmental impact of a cleaning contract develops through daily use, making sustainability an important consideration from the outset. Choosing cleaning products designed to reduce waste allows schools to improve environmental performance without changing the way cleaning is delivered. Concentrated products use less packaging and take up less space during transport, provided they are diluted correctly. Schools should therefore consider the support suppliers provide to help cleaning operatives use products as intended. These choices improve efficiency while demonstrating how environmental responsibility and good resource management can work together.
Procurement also provides an opportunity to work with suppliers that share a commitment to reducing environmental impact. Long- term partnerships encourage continuous improvement throughout the contract, allowing schools to make continual progress. Supporting the cleaning workforce Every cleaning contract ultimately depends on the people delivering it. Procurement therefore has an important role in ensuring cleaning teams have the equipment, products and support needed to maintain standards safely and consistently.
Well-designed systems simplify routine tasks and reduce unnecessary complexity, helping cleaning teams work efficiently across the
school estate. During the evaluation, schools can ask suppliers to demonstrate how a common task would be completed on site. The people responsible for the work can then assess whether the method is practical within the time available. Training and technical guidance should be easy to access, providing reassurance when a new product is introduced or requirements change, ensuring staff have the confidence to maintain standards throughout the contract.
Supporting the workforce in this way strengthens the overall performance of a contract. When cleaning teams are equipped with the right tools and ongoing support, schools benefit from greater consistency across the estate and a learning environment that continues to meet the expectations of pupils, staff and parents.
An opportunity to rethink procurement The Procurement Act allows schools to take a broader view of what successful procurement looks like. Cleaning demonstrates why this matters because the decisions made during a tender process continue influencing the condition of the education estate long after a contract has been signed.
Defining the required result gives the procurement process a clear starting point. Assessing each proposal against that outcome creates a clear thread from procurement through to implementation and ongoing contract management.
As schools review contracts for the year ahead, this approach can help them secure cleaning systems that continue delivering value for the estate, the workforce and the wider school community.
www.education-today.co.uk 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
