The consequences of procurement failures are more than a theory. In Bromcom Computers plc v United Learning Trust, an academy trust faced a legal challenge following a procurement exercise for a cloud-based management information system contract valued at approximately £2 million and covering 57 schools.
The High Court identified several breaches of procurement law, including unlawful aspects of the evaluation and scoring process and a failure to treat bidders equally.
The case also considered whether the successful bidder's method of tender submission complied with procurement requirements, as access to tender documents was provided through a file-sharing facility rather than by email attachment.
The court found multiple procurement breaches and concluded that, but for those errors, Bromcom would have won the contract, resulting in an award of damages.
According to a January 2024 investigation by Schools Week, the trust's total costs, including legal proceedings, a failed appeal and settlement, were approximately £2 million, with around £1 million ultimately borne by the trust.
The case demonstrates how weaknesses in procurement procedures can expose academy trusts to costly legal disputes, operational disruption and reputational damage, while highlighting the importance of transparent, consistent and well-documented procurement processes.
A dedicated electronic tendering system can help schools and multi-academy trusts establish a more consistent, secure and auditable approach to procurement.
Relying on emails, shared folders or disconnected manual processes presents several issues that an e-tendering platform can help address by providing a centralised environment for managing procurement activities from initial publication through to tender evaluation and contract award.
For schools and academy trusts reviewing their procurement arrangements, there are several important areas to consider:
These are all areas supported by In-tend's e-tendering solution, which has been designed to help organisations simplify procurement processes while supporting transparency, accountability and good governance.
While having the right technology in place is an important part of effective procurement, navigating increasingly complex regulations and managing challenging tender exercises can still be daunting, particularly for schools and trusts without dedicated procurement expertise.
Experienced procurement specialists can help schools and multi-academy trusts navigate regulatory requirements, manage complex tenders and reduce the administrative burden on internal teams.
The level of support required will vary depending on an organisation's existing resources and the complexity of its procurement activities. This might range from occasional guidance on a particular issue to specialist assistance with an individual tender or a more comprehensive outsourced approach.
In-tend offers support across these areas through three services:
Ultimately, the right approach will depend on the needs of the individual school or academy trust, its available resources and the procurement challenges it faces.
Effective procurement requires compliance with legislative requirements while also demonstrating responsible use of public funds, ensuring fair opportunities for suppliers and achieving value for money.
With ever-increasing scrutiny and expectations around transparency, schools and multi-academy trusts may benefit from reviewing their existing procurement arrangements and considering whether their systems and processes provide the necessary levels of control and assurance.
The In-tend team will be exhibiting at the Schools & Academies Show at the NEC Birmingham on 18 November 2026.
If you're attending the show and would like to discuss your procurement processes, the challenges facing your school or academy trust, or the support available, visit us at Stand G28 for a conversation with the team.