Shaping the future of public procurement: insights into the PPE+ Europe 2024-2028 training programme

BBG, the central purchasing body for the public sector in Austria, is part of the Consortium implementing PPE+ Europe 2024 - 2028, which aims to enhance the strategic procurement capabilities of centralised procurement organisations across Europe. The training programme was launched in mid-2024 and will feature a total of four training rounds, designed for public procurers who want to develop their skills in integrating sustainability, innovation, and digitalisation into their procurement processes. After each of the training rounds, participating organisations have the opportunity to apply for individual consultancy service packages to initiate and assist individual transformation projects in the field of public procurement.

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) is seeking to enhance strategic procurement training for centralised procurement organisations through the modules offered in the PPE+ Europe 2024 - 2028 programme. What are the primary goals of the PPE+ project, and how does it address the unique challenges faced by public procurers in Europe today?

The primary goals of the PPE+ Europe 2024-2028 project are to further professionalise public procurement practitioners, particularly from Central Purchasing Bodies (CPBs) and other centralised procurement institutions from EU Member States and Single Market Programme (SMP) participating countries. The project builds on the experience gained from previous European training programmes and practical expertise from other EU projects. It seeks to enhance the competencies and expertise required to tackle the complex challenges in public procurement, including issues related to supply chains, SMEs and market structures, pricing as well as strategic and sustainable considerations. The programme also aims to ensure the efficient and legally compliant use of public funds, which is a key responsibility for public procurers.

Public procurement professionals are tasked with managing various, sometimes conflicting, requirements, such as balancing the efficient use of public funds with achieving socio-political goals. This requires expertise in multiple disciplines, including law, product and market knowledge, technical know-how, project management, and communication.

The PPE+ Europe programme ensures that participants further develop the competencies needed to navigate these complex challenges while fostering effective and sustainable knowledge transfer within organisations. It is addressed by providing a comprehensive training programme that combines practical and academic approaches. It equips participants with the necessary tools, methods, and templates for daily procurement tasks, while also offering practical exercises and real-life case studies.

Additionally, the programme provides the opportunity for organisations to apply for individual support services, allowing them to receive tailored assistance in initiating and implementing transformation projects based on the knowledge gained during the training. This holistic approach is designed to support public procurers in navigating the evolving procurement landscape effectively and efficiently.

How does the PPE+ Europe training programme equip public procurers to incorporate sustainability, innovation, and digitalisation into their procurement processes?

The PPE+ training programme is based on a comprehensive curriculum that includes dedicated modules which provide participants with the necessary skills to integrate relevant sustainability, innovation and digitalisation aspects into their procurements. 

For example, a key component of the programme focuses on applying sustainability aspects in procurement practices by addressing how sustainability can be strategically integrated into every stage of the procurement process. Furthermore, participants gain insight into key EU policies, strategies, and regulations that support sustainable and innovative procurement. For example, they learn to effectively use tools like the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to assess tenders regarding sustainability and innovative criteria. This helps ensure that procurement decisions align with both environmental goals and legal requirements, creating long-term, sustainable value. 

The module “Public Procurement Promoting Innovation” helps participants understand EU regulations related to innovation in public procurement and teaches them how to approach the procurement of innovative solutions. This includes identifying customer needs that foster innovation, connecting public buyers with innovative suppliers, and applying market research methods to discover cutting-edge solutions. It also covers how to classify and integrate innovative products and services into procurement processes, enabling procurers to design processes that actively seek out innovation.

In the E-Procurement and Digitisation module, the focus is on the role of e-procurement and digitalisation in transforming public procurement processes and the importance of data and digitalisation, which are key to modernising and optimising procurement practices. Participants explore the latest trends in end-to-end e-procurement platforms and learn how these digital tools can optimise processes, improve data quality and increase transparency. It includes key EU regulations, best practices for implementing e-procurement systems, and the critical success factors that ensure these systems are effective. 

What are the long-term benefits of PPE+ Europe for public procurement systems across Europe, and how can participants maximise their impact after completing the training?

The long-term benefits of the PPE+ Europe programme are multifaceted. First, it strengthens the capacity and competency of procurement staff, enabling them to meet the European Commission's strategic objectives for the professionalisation of the public procurement function. By participating in the programme, public procurement professionals gain access to a comprehensive set of best practices, tools, methods, and templates that facilitate the implementation of professional and efficient tender procedures as well as contracts for valuable and sustainable products and services. 

Secondly, participants benefit from the establishment of a broad network of public procurement experts across Europe, fostering the exchange of knowledge and professional experiences that can improve procurement practices on a regional and international level. Long-term impact is achieved through the involvement in the PPE Alumni Network, a powerful platform that has connected participants of all PPE training courses since 2018.

Furthermore, participants' organisations can apply for individual consultancy service packages (up to 60 hours remote), which can support them to initiate and assist transformation projects based on the knowledge and expertise acquired through the programme. This helps them to implement tailored solutions and improvements that are directly aligned with their relevant procurement needs. 

What are the main highlights or key takeaways from the first round of PPE+ Europe 2024 training that is ongoing? Have you received any feedback from the participants currently enrolled?

The beauty of this training is that it’s not just about learning from the trainers and experts — it’s about the shared knowledge and perspectives that each participant brings to the table. One of the highlights for the participants, but also for the project team, was the first in-person meeting with all those involved at our kick-off in Vienna in November. It’s been amazing to see how the diverse perspectives of participants enriched each session, creating a learning environment where everyone contributed and learned from one another. Also to see how new friendships were formed in the first two weeks – a testament to the strong sense of community that has developed within this group. This collaboration will undoubtedly continue to drive us all forward in our professional journeys.

As for feedback from participants, there has been a very positive response to the programme. The demand for such training opportunities highlights the continued relevance and importance of professionalisation in the field of public procurement. Participants have expressed appreciation for the programme's practical exercises, real-life case studies, and the opportunity to network with other procurement experts across Europe. The combination of modules held by highly experienced trainers and practitioners from relevant central procurement organisations on the one hand and by renowned professors with relevant academic knowledge on the other is also recognised as a major advantage. 

Additionally, the chance to apply for consultancy service packages to support transformation projects has been particularly well received, as it offers tailored, hands-on support to implement the knowledge gained during the training.

Overall, participants have recognised how demanding and time-consuming the training programme is, but they see it as very valuable in terms of increasing their expertise and improving procurement practices in their respective organisations.

When will the next rounds of PPE+ Europe training take place, and how can interested public procurers sign up?

The next round of the training programme, PPE+ Europe 2025, is currently in the preparation phase, and we will be launching communication very soon. The official application phase will take place between April and May 2025. We will send out direct invitations with information to eligible organisations, but interested public procurers will also find information and regular updates on the Public Buyers Community Platform and our LinkedIn channel.

To ensure you don’t miss out on the application phase and stay informed about important updates, we recommend registering now for the PPE+ Community on the Public Buyers Community Platform. Once the application phase opens, all the necessary information will be available there including an online application link for interested public procurers.

As for the schedule, the first training block of PPE+ Europe 2025 will start around September 2025, with the other blocks following in a structured timeline. More specific dates will be shared soon.

We look forward to welcoming you to the next round of the PPE+ Europe training programme.