The problem with doing things the old way is, we're doing things the old way.
In the public sector, there’s a pattern. It’s called Request For Proposal (RFP). It’s a process built to tick boxes. But here’s a thought: If we always follow the same path, won't we always get the same results?
We’re in a world where technology is moving fast. Where innovation doesn’t fit inside neat, tidy boxes. But still, the RFP tries to make it.
It locks us into a framework where decisions get made too early and creativity is barred before it even has a chance to get into the club.
It's in the press. The NHS wastes billions. Small businesses, the ones with the real passion for innovation, rarely get a seat at the table. The opportunity to do something meaningful slips by. We’re left with systems that don’t talk to each other, that don’t grow or adapt as we need them to. And that’s the cost of sticking to the old way.
What if we don’t just buy solutions, but we build them together?
What if suppliers could work alongside decision-makers, getting in at the start, to listen and to shape something that actually works?
We’ve been stuck in a model that’s about finishing the race. It's time we focused on how we run it.
Imagine a process where ideas could breathe.
Where they could grow. A process where suppliers aren’t just ticking boxes, but they’re co-creating. Innovating. Where it’s about more than just getting the job done, but about building something that lasts. Simple. Affordable. Sustainable.
This isn’t just about suppliers.
It’s about the people writing the rules. The ones who set the boundaries. The governance bodies and procurement teams. Do they have the power and the courage to change the game?
They can create space for the bold. The different. The brave. Because when we make room for better thinking, better outcomes and results follow.
We have to start asking better questions.
What if this wasn’t about finding a solution today, but building something for tomorrow?
What if we didn’t just follow the rules of the game, but rewrote them?
Collaboration is part of the solution.
By bringing people in earlier. By listening more. By letting the process evolve.
We’ll build solutions that aren’t just good enough, but that are great.
We’ll stop wasting time. Stop wasting money. And start creating value. Real, sustainable, long-term value.
The traditional RFP has had its time.
Now it’s time to move on. Because when we do that, we’re not just buying solutions. We’re building a better future.
Book an Innovation Xploration below and let's reimagine what's possible through collaboration, curiosity and meaningful, long-term solutions.
