South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA)

What South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) does

South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) is the South West of England regional hub of LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG), a not-for-profit central purchasing body established in 1966 that operates five regional business units (LHC, NPA, SPA, SWPA, WPA). SWPA provides public sector procurement frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) covering construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social housing and public buildings, procured in accordance with The Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Frameworks are organised into categories including Construction Extension and Refurbishment, Roofing/Windows/Doors, Property Protection and Maintenance, Kitchens, Energy Efficiency, and Consultancy, alongside four DPS offerings (EERT, RM, WH, LCH). The portfolio has expanded into net zero / retrofit procurement via the 2025 N9 framework and a Low Carbon Offsite Housing Construction DPS.

SWPA's business model is not-for-profit: frameworks are free to use for eligible public sector bodies, with over 250 appointed suppliers accessing approximately £350m of construction, refurbishment and maintenance projects per financial year. Revenue is generated indirectly through member rebates once associate partners spend above a threshold on SWPA frameworks, with surplus returned to associate partners to fund social value outcomes including the Community Benefit Fund (grants of up to £1,000 distributed via South West Community Matters and Locality). The Call Off Service is a free advisory offering guiding Associate Partners from project initiation to contract award. Distribution is consultative and relationship-driven, with regional procurement managers and account management teams, supplemented by direct website access, a Framework Finder tool, the InTend eTendering Portal, events, and content marketing via LinkedIn, YouTube, and website News & Insights.

SWPA operates from its South West regional headquarters at Partridge House, Kennford, Exeter, and is part of LHCPG whose head office relocated to larger premises at 2 Vine Street, Uxbridge in August 2025. The group holds Gold Standard verification from Constructing Excellence (one of only six of more than 2,000 framework providers assessed), ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certifications (re-certified August 2025), and reports a 90% client satisfaction rating across its customer base of over 60 publicly funded organisations.

Name

South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA)

Legal name

LHC Procurement Group Limited

Website

https://swpa.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) is the South West regional hub of LHC Procurement Group, providing free, PCR 2015-compliant procurement frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems for construction, refurbishment and maintenance to local authorities, housing associations, NHS trusts, universities and emergency services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Procurement Frameworks

akta.pro primary industry

Public Procurement & Contracting (BPAIAEAE)

Keywords

• Public sector procurement
• Construction procurement frameworks
• Dynamic purchasing systems
• Social housing refurbishment
• Building maintenance procurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Procurement Framework Administration: SWPA is a not-for-profit organization. It does not charge public sector clients to use its frameworks. Any surplus is returned to associate partners to improve social value outcomes. Revenue is generated through member rebates where members spend over a specified threshold on SWPA frameworks, which funds the Community Benefit Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SWPA provides free-to-use, fully compliant procurement frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) for the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social housing and public buildings, procured in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Its frameworks give local authorities, housing associations, NHS trusts, universities and other public sector bodies in the South West of England access to over 250 pre-qualified suppliers delivering approximately £350m of works per financial year.

Product overview

South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) is the South West hub of the LHC Procurement Group, a not-for-profit central purchasing body providing high-quality, innovative frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) for public sector procurement. SWPA offers a portfolio of framework categories covering construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social housing and public buildings. Their main framework categories include: Construction Extension and Refurbishment (encompassing Modern Methods of Construction New Homes NH3, Modular Buildings MB3, Public Buildings Construction PB3, and Refurbishment & Modernisation RM3); Property Protection and Maintenance (Asset Safety and Compliance ASC1, Fire Safety FS2); Kitchens (K7); Energy Efficiency (Retrofit and Decarbonisation N9); and Consultancy Services (CS1). They also operate multiple Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Technology, Repair and Maintenance, Whole House Refurbishment, and Low Carbon Offsite Housing Construction. Additional services include a free Call Off Service for smaller projects and a Community Benefit Fund providing grants to local community groups. The organisation is Gold Standard verified and procures in accordance with The Public Contracts Regulations 2015, with frameworks free to use for eligible public sector bodies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SWPA Frameworks: Public sector procurement frameworks for construction, refurbishment, and maintenance of social housing and public buildings
• SWPA Community Benefit Fund
• SWPA Lifetime Values
• SWPA Lifetime Values

Products and services

• Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9) Framework A free-to-use framework for local authorities, housing associations and other public sector organisations in the South West to procure energy efficiency and decarbonisation works across six workstreams including consultancy, multi-disciplinary works, building insulation, heating/ventilation, building control systems, and solar/EV.
• Construction Extension and Refurbishment Frameworks Umbrella framework category covering Modern Methods of Construction New Homes (NH3), Modular Buildings (MB3), Public Buildings Construction (PB3), and Refurbishment & Modernisation (RM3) for construction, extension and refurbishment of social housing and public buildings.
• Property Protection and Maintenance Frameworks Framework category for asset safety, compliance and property maintenance, including Asset Safety and Compliance (ASC1) covering asbestos, water testing, HVAC servicing and electrical fixed wire testing, and Fire Safety (FS2) covering consultancy, risk management, system installations, cladding remediation and waking watch services.
• Kitchens and Associated Products (K7) Framework Framework providing an efficient procurement route for the supply of domestic and inclusive kitchens to local authorities, housing associations and other public sector organisations.
• Consultancy Services (CS1) Framework Multi-disciplinary consultancy framework covering architectural services, project management, engineering, quantity surveying and health & safety advisory for public sector construction projects.
• Roofing Systems and Associated Works (RS5) Framework Framework for design, installation and associated works of traditional and modern roofing systems (flat, pitched, profiled and biodiverse roofs) across workstreams for traditional flat, liquid flat, profiled metal, pitched and mixed roofing.
• Windows & Doors - Aluminium (A8) Framework Framework for the supply and installation of aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling products for local authorities, housing associations and public sector bodies, suitable for low, medium and high rise housing schemes and public buildings.
• Windows & Doors - PVC-U & Timber (WD2) Framework

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% client satisfaction rating
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• South West Community MatterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWPA works with South West Community Matters to distribute Community Benefit Fund grants of up to £1,000 to local community projects and causes. The fund focuses on increasing community facilities and benefits particularly for those most in need.
• LocalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWPA partners with Locality alongside the Community Benefit Fund to evaluate and allocate grants to nominated community groups. Locality supports the fund's evaluation process for community groups receiving grants.
• LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWPA is the South West hub of the LHC Procurement Group, which has supported public sector organisations with technical procurement for over 50 years since 1966. LHCPG encompasses five regional business units: LHC, NPA, SPA, SWPA, and WPA. The group provides shared frameworks, technical resources, and governance across all regions.
• InTendcoreTechnology or IntegrationSWPA uses the InTend eTendering Portal for supplier registration, framework opportunity advertisements, and tender management. All framework opportunities are advertised on the InTend portal along with Contract Finder and Tenders Electronic Daily.
• Constructing Modern Methods (CMM) / Housing FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Low Carbon Offsite Housing Construction (LCH) DPS was previously created in partnership with Constructing Modern Methods (CMM) and the Housing Festival to provide an open market procurement solution for low carbon housing construction.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• YPO (Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation): Public sector-owned purchasing organisation supplying a wide range of procurement frameworks and DPS to local authorities, schools and other public bodies. Directly comparable to SWPA in structure, customer base and construction/maintenance framework focus, with a North of England focus.
• LHC (London & Home Counties / Midlands): LHC Procurement Group's London, South East and Midlands regional hub. Operates the same not-for-profit public sector framework model as SWPA and is the largest of the five LHCPG regional units, making it a key operational comparator.
• Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA): Welsh regional hub of LHC Procurement Group, providing free-to-use public sector procurement frameworks in Wales. Closely comparable to SWPA in model, framework categories and customer base, just at a regional level.
• Pagabo: Commercial provider of public sector procurement frameworks, including construction frameworks, used by local authorities and other public bodies. Comparable to SWPA in framework offering and customer base but operates as a profit-making entity with broader national coverage.
• Northern Procurement Alliance (NPA): Sister regional hub within LHC Procurement Group, providing frameworks across the North of England. Operates the same not-for-profit, free-to-use framework model as SWPA, making it the closest direct operational peer and benchmark.
• Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA): Scottish regional hub of LHC Procurement Group, offering construction and maintenance frameworks to Scottish public sector bodies. Sister entity to SWPA under the same LHCPG governance and operating model.
• ESPO (Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation): Public sector-owned purchasing organisation providing frameworks for local authorities, schools, and the wider public sector. Closely comparable to SWPA in operating model, customer base and free-to-use framework offering, though focused on the East Midlands and East of England.

Broad incumbents

• Crown Commercial Service: The UK government's central procurement body, operating national frameworks for public sector buyers. Directly comparable to SWPA as a framework provider, but with a national mandate and direct government backing rather than a regional not-for-profit model.
• NHS Shared Business Services: Provides procurement frameworks and shared services primarily to NHS trusts and wider public sector. Comparable to SWPA in providing free-to-use compliant procurement frameworks, but with a stronger healthcare-sector focus and national reach.

Emerging players

• Procurement for Housing: Sector-focused procurement framework provider for housing associations and the social housing sector in the UK. Comparable to SWPA in targeting housing associations for construction and maintenance frameworks, though narrower in sector and geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC57cOwQ4XeaWFM6ppLmZuCw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swpa-south-west-procurement-alliance

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA)