Selling to the council

Changes to invoicing process from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, the council will be moving towards a 'No Purchase Order (PO), No Pay' process.

This means that payments to any invoices submitted without a valid Purchase Order Number may be delayed or unpaid. If you are currently supplying goods or services under an existing contract, the council may issue Purchase Orders for future payments that are due.

This means:

• for new contracts and future purchases made on or after 1 July 2026, a Purchase Order will be sent to you directly via email
• add the the PO number clearly on all invoices submitted to the council on or after 1 July 2026
• send invoices or credit notes to ap.invoices@islington.gov.uk
• if you have an invoice enquiry or any other query, continue to email e.invoicing@islington.gov.uk
• your existing council contacts remain the same
• supplier queries will continue to be managed and supported by the same teams.

Register for the Find A Tender Service

The Procurement Act 2023 makes changes to the way we procure (find and buy) services from companies on 24 February 2025.

If your organisation already supplies or wants to supply goods, works or services to the council (or any other public body), you must register for the Find A Tender Service website. 

You may already have an account for Find A Tender, but you will still need to register again from Monday 24 February 2025.

You can do this now or later, but you must do it before you next bid on a tender or contract with us or another public body.

• Watch these Government videos about how to do this.
• Download and read this guide to registering on the new version of the system.

Changes to procurement for local authorities

The Procurement Act 2023 is part of the Transforming Public Procurement Programme aiming to make it easier to bid and work in partnership with the public sector, and reduce barriers for small and medium enterprises.

What this means to you

• More flexibility - simplifying processes, open commercial frameworks and removing paperwork barriers to small businesses.
• Greater transparency - the new Find A Tender will make it easier to find and bid on contracts and see public procurement opportunities at no cost.
• Better oversight - a new Procurement Review Unit to make sure suppliers are adhering to the Procurement Act and reduce the risk of contracts going to unsuitable suppliers.  

GOV.UK has more information in its short guides to the Procurement Act 2023. You can also download and read a short guide for suppliers.

Islington Council Progressive Procurement Strategy 2020-27

The Progressive Procurement Strategy 2020-27 sets out our approach to spending money with third parties. This includes:

• Progressive procurement values: The council seeks progressive partners with shared values and common ambitions, to have the maximum positive impact for Islington, especially the disadvantaged. We want money spent within Islington to support local organisations, jobs and training.
• Social value: This is about improving the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the borough. The council has adopted a target weighting of at least 20% for social value when evaluating bids.
• London Living Wage: Islington Council is an accredited London Living Wage employer and the London Living Wage must be considered on all contracts.
• Equality Act 2010: All organisations we work with must adhere to the Equality Act 2010. The council welcomes applicants from black and minority ethnic communities and disabled groups.
• Fairness and equality: The Charter for Fairness and Equality sets out our commitment to promote equality and fairness within the borough.
• Modern Slavery: We signed the Charter Against Modern Slavery in March 2018. The Government has issued guidance on Modern Slavery and a guide for suppliers.
• Procurement rules: Our procurement rules (page 295 in part 6 of the Council Constitution) set out our obligations when spending funds on goods, services or works.
• Scrutiny meetings: Suppliers are in the best position to talk about the contracts they deliver. As a result, suppliers should be prepared to attend the council’s scrutiny meetings to discuss their performance.
• Best value: We have a duty to ensure best value, in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999: “A Best Value authority must make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness (LGA 1999, section 3[1]).” Our aim is to improve local services in terms of quality and cost.
• Procurement Forward Plan: The Procurement Forward Plan – our procurement pipeline – is a list of the planned contracts which are due to expire over the coming five years.
• Insourcing policy: We consulted in 2019 about a policy to deliver services in house by default, which has been adopted unless it is better for residents in terms of quality and cost.

Construction sector directory

We are developing a directory of local small and medium enterprises to direct developers and anchor institutions towards local businesses, initially within the wider construction sector.

• Our construction directory connects you to a wide range of local suppliers.

Supplier workshops and training

We support local businesses, voluntary and community sector organisations, and small or medium sized enterprises (SME - those with less than 250 employees). As part of this, we organise workshops, training and information sessions to help suppliers put forward better bids. For further information, email procurement@islington.gov.uk.