In our latest report, Integrated Care Systems reveal 2024/25 budget plans, Stotles took a deep dive into the world of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). In the United Kingdom, there are 42 ICSs, and before each new financial year kicks off, the NHS allocates its budget. 

According to our research into Capital Resource Plans tied to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), 32 of 42 have been published for 2024/25. Capital Resource Plans are published by ICBs before the start of each financial year and outline:

1. How capital will contribute to the ICB's priorities,
2. Its benefit to patients and healthcare users, and
3. Alignment with the system's joint forward plan (JFP) and infrastructure strategies

By gathering this data and organising it into an easy-to-view format, we have made it effortless for suppliers to draw insights and improve their approach to building a robust public sector procurement pipeline for selling into the NHS.

A key facet of the ICS report ranks ICBs based on their 2024/25 Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (CDEL). The core opportunity for keeping track of these budgets when they are released means that suppliers can strategically build their sales approach and pipeline based on where the budgets have been allocated. Then, using Stotles’ public sector contract data, all collected and cleaned from siloed public sources and organised into one user-friendly platform, supplier teams can prioritise the most relevant opportunities to approach first when building their NHS procurement pipelines.

To begin building your pipeline for working with the public sector, sign up for free with Stotles today.

ICS leaderboard: Where are the NHS budgets now?

When broken out across the 32 individual ICS regions, the allocated budget valued at £6.2 billion, represents significant procurement opportunities due to increased capital expenditure. In addition to including a snapshot of the top 10 ICBs based on their CDEL budget, we have included a clear comparison to last year's budget in the final column. Tracking budget change is a fundamental strategy suppliers use to effectively build their pipelines and prioritise key targets across the public sector. This list can track the ICSs with the largest budgets available and budget changes from last year.

‍To see the full list of 32 ICBs by total budget and growth download the full report here.

Looking at the regions that are leading year-over-year growth for this period, the below three ICBs have shown the most significant opportunities for suppliers looking to build a strategy based on the increase in budget.

Suppliers can use the Stotles platform to locate and organise opportunities based on NHS budgets. This is done by filtering a live feed of NHS opportunities based on relevancy using Stotles’ Signal settings creating a dynamic and personalised feed based on keywords, CPV codes, competitor activity and partners.

To begin building your pipeline for working with the public sector, sign up for free with Stotles today.

Vertical focus: Key NHS targets for suppliers

Diving deeper into the 2024/25 NHS budget allocations reveals which verticals where funding has significantly increased. If you are a supplier of these services you should track these opportunities to stay ahead of the competition. An example of how to leverage this information is that the North Central London Integrated Care Board announced the below points for sector-specific allocations:

• IT and Digital Transformation: The North Central London ICB has allocated £63.6 million to IT, including investments in digital transformation projects like Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems, diagnostics, and digital infrastructure.
• Construction and New Builds: £218 million was allocated to new builds in North Central London, projects like the Moorfields Eye Institute Relocation and the St Pancras Redevelopment stand out. Construction suppliers should be prepared to engage with infrastructure upgrades and long-term development projects.
• Facilities Management (FM): Royal Free London Trust and Whittington Health Trust have set aside funds for fire safety upgrades, HVAC systems, and other critical FM needs. Suppliers specialising in maintenance services should consider these regions a priority.

Approaching NHS Budgets: Practical advice for suppliers

Suppliers can leverage these budget increases to improve public sector sales by tailoring their approach to the regions and sectors showing the most potential. Suppliers should target these regions and engage with relevant decision-makers early to position themselves for upcoming tenders.

• Prioritise High-Growth ICSs: North Central London, Norfolk and Waveney, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are increasing their capital investments in essential areas like IT, construction, and facilities management. 
• Capitalise on Sector-Specific Investments: Suppliers offering services in IT and digital transformation should focus on areas like North Central London, where the largest IT budgets have been allocated.
• Explore Multi-Year Contracts: Construction and infrastructure suppliers can benefit from long-term projects in high-growth regions, such as the new builds in North Central London and ongoing infrastructure development in Norfolk and Waveney. These projects offer multi-year contracts that can provide a stable pipeline of work for the foreseeable future.
• Tailor Services to Facility Maintenance Needs: Facilities management suppliers should focus on regions allocating significant budgets to maintenance and compliance. For example, Royal Free London Trust and Whittington Health Trust are investing in critical infrastructure upgrades, fire safety, and ongoing maintenance, providing key opportunities for suppliers who can offer cost-effective and compliant services.

Elevating your NHS sales strategy: Next steps for suppliers

While the 2024/25 NHS budget allocations signal a changing landscape, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for suppliers, approaching the public sector with a data-driven strategy has never been more convenient. Focusing on regions with the most relevant procurement potential—whether in growing or contracting regions—suppliers can align their public sector sales strategy for maximum impact. 

To begin building your pipeline for working with the public sector, sign up for free with Stotles today.