constellia | Procurement, empowered
NEPRO Innovation: North East supplier Event
Levelling the playing field for suppliers to access public sector opportunities.
Powered by NEPO | Delivered by Constellia
event details:
about the event
Constellia and NEPO invite you to join us in person at Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, on 16 September for a free supplier event focused on meeting local public sector buyers, connecting with other North East suppliers and understanding how to access business opportunities through NEPRO Innovation.
The event is an opportunity to meet the teams delivering the solution, network with other local suppliers, and hear from Middlesbrough Council about how they are using the framework and the types of supplier partnerships they are looking to develop to support local economic growth in the region.
For suppliers not yet working with Constellia, the session will also explain how joining the marketplace can help your business access public sector opportunities through a simple, compliant and supported route to market — including opportunities across Constellia’s 240+ public sector clients across the UK.
Whether you are already working with public sector clients, looking to grow in the North East, or exploring how to access opportunities nationally, this session will help you understand how to get started through a compliant and supported route to market.
New Announcement: We’re pleased to confirm that Hartlepool Council and Darlington Borough Council will also be joining Middlesbrough Council at the event to meet suppliers and discuss how local authority teams are looking to engage with the supplier community through NEPRO Innovation.
About NEPRO Innovation
NEPRO Innovation is the newest addition to the NEPRO portfolio, a single, compliant and flexible route enabling public sector organisations to procure goods, services, works, technology and research and development. For suppliers delivering across multiple categories, your full range of solutions can be accessed and procured through one single route.
Developed by NEPO and delivered by the awarded delivery partner Constellia, NEPRO Innovation is designed to make public sector work more accessible for businesses of every size.
NEPRO Innovation supports a broad range of public sector requirements across 400+ subcategories of spend, from construction, estates and infrastructure through to technology, digital, professional services, consultancy, facilities management, research and development, and innovation-led projects.
Further information on NEPRO Innovation is available here.
9:30 – 10:00: Registration, Networking & Coffee
10:00 – 10:45: Understanding the NEPRO Innovation Opportunity
10:45 – 11:15: Live Supplier Onboarding & Accreditation Demonstration: A step-by-step demonstration of the supplier onboarding process within the Constellia marketplace, including:
11:15 – 11:30: Q&A
11:30 – 12:00: Networking & Coffee: Engage with the supplier community and contracting authorities in the North East. Representatives from public sector organisations include Middlesbrough Council, Darlington Borough Council and Hartlepool Council.
Timings are indicative and subject to change.
Meet the speakers
Hear directly from the organisations involved in creating, delivering and using NEPRO Innovation. NEPO will explain why the framework was created and where it sits within the wider NEPRO portfolio. Constellia, as the appointed delivery partner, will walk suppliers through how the framework operates, including onboarding, accreditation and supplier support. Middlesbrough Council will share how they are using NEPRO Innovation to procure complex, cross-category projects and engage with suppliers across the region.
Katie Dawson
Procurement Business Partner | NEPO
Claire Walker
Head of Service Procurement, Contract Management and Children’s Commissioning | Middlesbrough Council
Mark Summers
Head of Supplier Engagement | Constellia
Terence Milner
Public Sector and Utilities Director | Constellia
Aimee Cook
Operational Procurement & Systems Lead | Constellia
This event is open to suppliers based in the North East, operating across the region, or looking to grow their presence with public sector clients in the area. It is particularly relevant for teams responsible for identifying, winning and managing public sector opportunities, including:
- Business leaders and decision makers exploring growth with public sector clients
- Business development and growth teams looking to build relationships with public sector buyers
- Sales and partnerships teams supporting prospects or existing clients who need a compliant route to buy
- Bid and tender teams managing framework access, registrations and public sector opportunities.
how nepro innovation supports suppliers
opportunity
With an estimated value of £20 billion (excluding VAT), NEPRO Innovation represents significant growth potential for suppliers. With over 1,000 public sector organisations registered to use NEPO solutions nationally, this is not just a North East framework — it opens more opportunities to suppliers for the full breadth of the UK public sector, spanning local authorities, NHS trusts, schools, emergency services, housing associations, registered social landlords and central government.
fairness
Constellia’s neutral vendor approach means suppliers compete on merit, through a more accessible process. This means micro-SMEs, SMEs, specialists and niche providers can access the same opportunities as larger organisations by joining the Constellia marketplace. A level playing field for all.
simplicity & speed
Joining, tendering and delivering is designed to work for businesses of every size. It is free to join and free to tender. Onboarding is quick, simple and perpetual, asking only for information that is needed to reduce admin burden. In addition, Constellia has a dedicated Supplier Relationship Management team supporting you throughout every stage, from onboarding through to post-contract delivery.
What Makes NEPRO Innovation Different to Other Procurement Routes?
Built for the new procurement landscape
NEPRO Innovation was developed and procured under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023), purpose-built and designed to deliver on its core ambitions around innovation, social value and SME/VCSE participation. That means a genuine focus on working with local suppliers to strengthen local economies, and a route that actively supports SMEs and specialist providers to compete and win more public sector work.
A collaborative route to innovation
NEPRO Innovation enables buyers and suppliers to work together from the outset to deliver innovation. Buyers can procure research and development and actively invite suppliers to propose innovative solutions, even where the outcome is known but the solution is not yet defined. Authorities can test, pilot and scale, with suppliers involved early to help shape the right approach. Because the public sector knows that SMEs, start-ups and specialist suppliers are where innovation lives, and NEPRO Innovation gives them a compliant route to access it.
Trusted by the public sector
Backed by NEPO’s nearly 50 years of public procurement expertise and Constellia’s proven track record across thousands of public sector projects and 250+ clients, NEPRO Innovation brings together two of the UK public sector’s most trusted procurement names, with over 1,000 organisations already registered to use NEPO solutions nationally.
What if I am already an approved supplier on the Constellia Marketplace?
Good news, you are nearly there. To access opportunities through NEPRO Innovation specifically, you simply need to complete the accreditation step by uploading two short case studies (including two references) to reflect each category of supply chosen on your supplier profile via www.constellia.net.
A template is provided to make this straightforward, and if you need any support at all, or have any further questions, the NEPRO Innovation team is on hand to help at nepro-innovation-support@constellia.com.
How does it work once you are an accredited supplier?
Opportunities are matched to you based on your service categories, so relevant work finds you. And if your existing clients or prospects need a PA 2023 compliant route to engage with you, NEPRO Innovation provides exactly that.
Please Note: Onboarding to the Constellia Marketplace does not guarantee business opportunities. By joining the Marketplace, your organisation becomes more visible to opportunities when Constellia receives client requirements that match your capabilities and selected categories. Always ensure your profile is kept up to date to maximise your opportunities in being shortlisted.
Is there a cost to attend?
No. The event is free to attend and open to all Northeast suppliers.
Can I join online?
No, this is an in person event only for suppliers located in the Northeast of England. Keep an eye on our events page and LinkedIn for announcements of events in your region.
Is there a cost to join the Constellia marketplace?
No, it’s free to join and free to bid. Service level fees are pre-agreed and only applied after the contract is awarded.
What if I am already a NEPO supplier?
If you are already a NEPO supplier, and want to be procured through NEPRO Innovation, your business must onboard on the Constellia marketplace and run through the approval and accreditation process. Constellia is the single, appointed delivery partner for NEPRO Innovation, therefore all contracts can only be awarded via this.
REGISTER HERE
NEPRO Innovation: North East Supplier Event – 16th September
Levelling the playing field for suppliers to access public sector opportunities.
