The UK wing of BIP has been appointed to seven lots of frameworks across UK local authorities. In particular, the lots pertain to ESPO’s frameworks around business services, health, social care, operation and strategic IT, environmental and sustainability consulting, and strategic programmes.
A framework agreement is a procurement mechanism increasingly deployed across the UK public sector, to ensure local authorities can obtain rapid access to trusted providers of professional services – while ensuring value for money. The ESPO (Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation) is one of the UK’s most established public sector procurement authorities.
The frameworks under EPSO’s jurisdiction provide fully compliant, pre-approved routes for public sector organisations to procure goods and services, eliminating the need for lengthy, resource-intensive tender processes. According to the organisation, being named on the ESPO Consultancy Services Framework is “a mark of assurance: suppliers are rigorously vetted and selected based on their capability, experience, and value for money.”
BIP is one of the world’s fastest-growing global management consultancies, and as its UK arm continues to expand, it has secured its own appointment to the ESPO Consultancy Services Framework. The firm notes this as a “major milestone that not only deepens BIP’s role in UK public sector transformation, but also reinforces its trajectory to becoming one of the leading consultancy firms in the country”.
Katherine Phipps, head of business change and director in BIP’s public sector consulting practice, commented, “At BIP Consulting, we are delighted to be selected for the new ESPO framework. With over 25 years of experience delivering transformation and change across the public sector, this opportunity builds on our proven work with central government and policing.”
Expanding role
Following a “rigorous and highly competitive process”, BIP received its place on seven lots, covering business services, health, social care (adults and children’s), operational IT, strategic IT, environmental and sustainability consultancy, and strategic programmes and projects. As a result, public sector organisations across the UK can now access BIP’s services quickly and compliantly through ESPO’s trusted framework, enabling smarter procurement and faster delivery of transformation programmes that improve lives.
Phipps added, “This reinforces our commitment to helping local authorities navigate complex challenges, improve services, and deliver meaningful outcomes for residents. We’re proud to partner with ESPO in enabling efficient, compliant, and impactful public sector delivery.”
Recently, the firm has expanded its support for local authorities, recognising their essential role in addressing social care demands, net zero commitments, and financial pressures. In the area of strategic IT, BIP has also partnered with two neighbouring police forces to develop a joint ICT strategy and target operating model, enabling a five-year, £100 million roadmap aligned to policing and crime priorities.