CMPP – Contract Management
Practical tools, training and support to help local authorities improve contract management and supplier oversight.
The Contract Management Pioneer Programme is a national programme funded by the Government Commercial Agency with the aim of supporting better contract management across local government. It provides local authorities with practical tools, templates, guidance, training, networking and direct support to help improve how contracts are managed.
The programme helps councils understand contract risk, strengthen oversight, improve supplier relationships and build confidence in contract management practice. The core CMPP toolkit includes resources covering contract management frameworks, contract tiering, RAID logs, supplier relationships, social value, Procurement Act guidance, assurance boards, competency frameworks and sustainability in procurement.
CMPP Housing provides additional tools and guidance specifically for local authority housing teams, helping them review and improve housing contract management, assess risks, consider alternative delivery models, strengthen supplier relationships and embed continuous improvement.
CMPP is designed for local authorities and local government professionals involved in managing, overseeing or improving contracts. It is particularly useful for officers and teams working in commercial, procurement, finance, housing, commissioning, service delivery, contract management and assurance roles.
The CMPP Housing tools are aimed at local authority housing teams that want to better understand contract performance, improve governance and strengthen the management of housing-related contracts.
Local Partnerships’ role
Local Partnerships works with programme partners to help develop and deliver CMPP support for the sector. Our role is to bring practical public sector expertise, commercial insight and hands-on delivery experience to help councils improve contract management in a way that is useful, realistic and relevant.
We help develop the tools, templates and guidance, working with local authorities so that the resources reflect real contract management challenges. We also support learning, direct engagement and sector feedback, helping the programme continue to evolve based on what councils need.
CMPP Toolkits
The resources page for Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP) that contains a range of tools, templates and guidance specifically for local authorities.
CMPP Housing
Containing a range of tools, templates and guidance specifically for local authority Housing teams.
Lunchables
Contract management Lunchables are short lunchtime webinars, running from 12pm to 12.30pm each weekday from 2 to 13 November. They are designed to help local government colleagues build their contract management knowledge.
Due to popular demand, the CMPP programme is currently full. If you’d like to join the waiting list, please email CMPPenquiries@localpartnerships.gov.uk with your council’s name and the number of learners. Thank you for your interest.
To find out more about CMPP please get in touch here CMPPenquiries@localpartnerships.gov.uk
Contract Management in Smaller Councils
Contract Management Transformation Support – Part of the Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP) funded by the Crown Commercial Services. Keep it proportional, keep it simple and keep it relevant. Simon Sowerby, Newcastle-Under Lyme When contracts are managed effectively, they can deliver quality services, the best outcomes for residents and even result in savings. However, […]
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Enhancing Contract Management: Central Bedfordshire Council’s Journey Towards Improved Efficiency
Central Bedfordshire Council is improving its contract management by adopting a tiering methodology through the Contract Management Pioneer Programme, enhancing consistency, strategic alignment, and long-term value across its diverse contracts. Central Bedfordshire is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Hertfordshire to the south and Buckinghamshire to the west. The council serves […]
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Waverley Borough Council Takes Steps to Enhance Contract Management
Waverley Borough Council, serving a population of 128,200 in Southwest Surrey, is set to overhaul its contract management practices following its participation in the Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP). Waverley Borough Council (WBC) has a decentralised approach to contract management arrangement and joined the Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP) in 2023. At their midpoint check-in […]
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Contract Management Pioneer Programme wins Government Commercial Function award
We’re delighted to announce that our Contract Management Pioneer Programme (CMPP) team, alongside project funder Crown Commercial Service, has won the “Best People Development Project” category at the Government Commercial Function Awards 2025. This award recognises the team’s outstanding work in boosting commercial capability across local government. Through the CMPP initiative, we are helping councils nationwide strengthen their contract management skills […]
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Contract Management Lunchables 2026
2 November 2026 – 13 November 2026 All-day Online
Watch the replay of our CMPP Supplier Negotiations webinar
Learning from experience in working with a range of councils, this webinar brings to life the guidance we have recently published on CMPP Supplier Negotiations. This was presented by two Senior Strategic Directors at Local Partnerships, David Crowe and Simon Bandy, who looked at preparing the right environment for negotiations, the key principles and areas of best practice.
Contract negotiation is not just an activity for those with a direct contract management role. It is likely to involve a range of senior officers within any authority depending on the size and importance of the contract. Supplier negotiation is therefore a capability that will need to be identified and supported in both corporate and service delivery teams.
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