Help Centre> News> Cimple secures Innovate UK Grant

Cimple has secured grant funding through the Innovate UK funding program. This funding will enable Cimple to undertake a year long research project alongside NHS SBS and the Behavioural Insights Team.

The overall scope of the project is to use digital techniques including data science, behavioural science and applications of AI/Machine Learning to improve societal outcomes delivered through Public Procurement. Throughout this project, Cimple will be researching the challenge end-to-end combining the situation within the Health Family & System, the digital interface developed by us at Cimple and the data/behavioural science expertise of BIT.

At a time of significant change in Public Procurement, with the Public Procurement Bill passing through Parliament, this project's vision is to deliver significant change in the future of Government procurement. It provides an opportunity to truly embed the Open Contract Data Standard and support delivery of the Social Value and Net Zero policies.

“This grant has been years in the planning and making. We have a deep belief that data and behavioural science has a huge part to play in improving societal outcomes through procurement at a time when it is needed most. We are thrilled to be partnering with BIT and NHS SBS to deliver a project of this significance.” Wyndham Plumptre, CEO of Cimple

Innovate UK drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas. They connect businesses to the partners, customers and investors that can help them turn ideas into commercially successful products and services and business growth. Cimple plays a similar role in Public Procurement working across the Public Sector to connect buyers and suppliers through a single interface. The project has the ability to significantly improve the commercial and non-commercial outcomes of Public Procurement in particular delivering improvements to levelling up in the UK and the reduction of Carbon from the Government Supply Chain.

“For NHS SBS, the aim is to be able to assess social value outcomes throughout the supply chain for true end-to-end tracking as well as insight on how to support buyers towards higher social value suppliers, ensuring policy and information translates into action. This research aims to provide valuable insight on how the Health Family System can deliver a greater level of social value and drive towards Net Zero.” Lydia Sullivan - Director of Procurement, Sustainability & Social Impact

The project will be kicking-off officially on 1st October 2022, and with the funding secured, this project will be lasting for 12 months. Over that time, we hope to be able to understand how Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can enable:

• Measurement/modelling of social outcomes through data,

• The tracking of social outcomes through open, end-to-end and interoperable Procurement-to-Payment (P2P) experiences, and

• Improving delivered social outcomes.

A strong theme throughout the project will also be us looking at supporting the efficacy of the social value model. Part of the project will be to provide insight and updates to Government Commercial Function on the progress and findings from the grant.

“About a third of public spending - £300bn - is on procurement. BIT's past research has shown how better information on supplier performance and simple changes to the design of procurement platforms can help officials make better decisions on what to buy and who to buy from. We're excited to work with Cimple and NHS SBS to make it easier to measure and track social outcomes across contracts and suppliers - to help achieve the government's ambition to use the power of the public purse to achieve Net Zero and social value goals.” Nida Broughton, Behavioural Insights Team Director

To stay updated on all project-related activity, you can find more information on LinkedIn and Twitter.