UK Financial Regulator

Overview

A UK Financial Regulator engaged the juniper blueprint (tjb) to provide specialist commercial and procurement support across two critical areas of strategic importance:

1) A strategic review and assurance of a major IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) outsourcing procurement, ensuring compliance, robustness, and successful conclusion of the process.

2) A comprehensive review and recommendations of the organisation’s procurement policy, guidance, and tools, aligned to the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.

These engagements strengthened the Regulator’s commercial governance, improved procurement maturity, and ensured readiness for future legislative and operational demands.

Part 1: Strategic Review of MSP Outsourcing Procurement

The Regulator was undertaking a significant outsourcing procurement for a new IT Managed Service Provider—an essential contract underpinning core technology operations and regulatory capability. With the procurement already underway, the organisation sought independent, expert support to review progress, ensure compliance, and provide confidence in the process.

Our Role

tjb worked closely with the in‑house commercial team, legal specialists, and external counsel to:

- Review the procurement process to date, assessing documentation, evaluation activity, governance, and decision‑making

- Ensure compliance with procurement legislation, including the Public Contracts Regulations and internal commercial policy

- Strengthen alignment between procurement, legal, and technical stakeholders, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, ensuring full auditability of evaluation and recommendations

- Provide strategic advice and assurance on key stages of the procurement lifecycle, including evaluation, moderation, negotiation, and contract finalisation

- Support the in‑house team in concluding the procurement, ensuring a defensible, transparent, and well‑governed process.

Impact

Our involvement provided the Regulator with:

- Confidence that the procurement was compliant, robust, and defensible

- Strengthened governance and documentation

- Improved clarity and assurance across stakeholders and leadership in process

- A smooth and assured conclusion to a strategically critical outsourcing programme.

Part 2: Procurement Policy, Guidance & Tools Review (PA 2023 Readiness)

With the Procurement Act 2023 introducing significant changes to public procurement, the Regulator recognised the need to update its internal commercial framework to remain compliant, modern, and fit for purpose.

Our Approach

tjb undertook a structured review of the organisation’s procurement policy suite, including:

- Procurement policy and procedural guidance

- Templates, tools, and supporting materials

- Governance and approval pathways

- Roles, responsibilities, and commercial interfaces

We assessed alignment with PA 2023 requirements, best practice, and the organisation’s operating context.

Deliverables

tjb produced a comprehensive set of recommendations and example materials.

Impact

The Regulator now has:

- Recommended updates to their procurement operating framework aligned to PA 2023

- Improved consistency and governance across procurement activity

- A practical roadmap for embedding new processes and tools.

Why Organisations Choose the juniper blueprint

tjb brings deep expertise in commercial transformation, procurement assurance, and operating model design across regulated, complex environments. Our team offers:

- Proven delivery across UK public bodies, regulators, and government

- Strong commercial, legislative and operational understanding

- The ability to work seamlessly with in‑house teams and external counsel

- A balance of strategic insight and hands‑on delivery

- A commitment to clarity, professionalism, and knowledge transfer.

We help organisations strengthen governance, reduce risk, and deliver procurement outcomes that stand up to scrutiny.

Ready to Strengthen Your Procurement Capability?

If your organisation is preparing for major procurement activity, navigating PA 2023, or seeking to modernise its commercial framework, the juniper blueprint would be delighted to support you.