What we do
We follow best practice and make sure all procurement is:
- Fair and competitive
- Honest and transparent
- Compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 (as amended)
- In line with Riverside’s Financial Regulations
We buy a wide range of things, including:
- Business services
- Consultancy
- IT
- Asset-related goods and services
How procurement works at Riverside
We apply different requirements depending on the value of the order or contract.
Procurement thresholds
| Order or contract value (gross) | What we require |
|---|---|
| Up to £5,000 | Minimum 1 written quotation from an approved supplier |
| £5,000.01 to £25,000 | Minimum 2 written quotations |
| £25,000.01 to UK threshold* | Minimum 3 written quotations |
| Over the UK threshold* | A formal tender using an approved e‑procurement tool |
UK threshold limits (from 1 January 2026, including VAT):
- Supply and services: £207,720
- Works: £5,193,000
All significant future contract opportunities are advertised through our e‑tendering portal.
We also advertise contracts on:
- Find a Tender – find-tender.service.gov.uk
- GOV.UK Contracts Finder
What you can do on our e‑tendering portal
You can:
- View current and upcoming opportunities
- Register as a supplier
- Manage your company profile
- Download tender documents
- Submit tenders online
- View your past submissions
Riverside is improving how we manage contractor health and safety.
We have partnered with Alcumus SafeContractor as our chosen Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) provider.
What this means for contractors:
- All contractors must be SSIP accredited to join our approved contractors list
- SafeContractor helps us assess risk, not just tick boxes
- Accreditation shows a clear commitment to good health and safety practice
Being a SafeContractor member makes you more attractive to work with and gives us confidence that standards are being met.
Purchase orders:
Before you provide goods or services, you must have a valid purchase order (PO).
- Each PO has a unique number
- The PO is emailed to the address given when the order is raised
- The PO includes the email address for sending invoices
No purchase order, no pay:
If the PO number is missing from your invoice, payment will be delayed.
Payment terms:
- We aim to pay all invoices within 30 days of the invoice date
- Any agreed alternative payment terms will be honoured
- Payments are usually made by BACS
- We email a remittance advice when payment is made
We expect our suppliers to pay their subcontractors in line with the Prompt Payment Policy (GOV.UK).
We may withhold payment if goods or services do not meet contract requirements. Late payment provisions apply under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
Under the new UK Procurement Regulations, Riverside publishes pipeline notices to give early notice of future opportunities.
What pipeline notices tell you:
- Planned procurements over the next 18 months
- Contracts with an estimated value over £2 million
- Updated once a year
These notices are published on:
- Find a Tender Service (FTS)
- The Central Digital Platform
Suppliers can access this information free of charge to help plan ahead.
For more information, visit Find a Tender
Tender opportunities and advertising
All significant future contract opportunities are advertised through our e‑tendering portal.
We also advertise contracts on:
- Find a Tender – find-tender.service.gov.uk
- GOV.UK Contracts Finder
What you can do on our e‑tendering portal
You can:
- View current and upcoming opportunities
- Register as a supplier
- Manage your company profile
- Download tender documents
- Submit tenders online
- View your past submissions
SSIP Accreditation
Riverside is improving how we manage contractor health and safety.
We have partnered with Alcumus SafeContractor as our chosen Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) provider.
What this means for contractors:
- All contractors must be SSIP accredited to join our approved contractors list
- SafeContractor helps us assess risk, not just tick boxes
- Accreditation shows a clear commitment to good health and safety practice
Being a SafeContractor member makes you more attractive to work with and gives us confidence that standards are being met.
Paying our suppliers
Purchase orders:
Before you provide goods or services, you must have a valid purchase order (PO).
- Each PO has a unique number
- The PO is emailed to the address given when the order is raised
- The PO includes the email address for sending invoices
No purchase order, no pay:
If the PO number is missing from your invoice, payment will be delayed.
Payment terms:
- We aim to pay all invoices within 30 days of the invoice date
- Any agreed alternative payment terms will be honoured
- Payments are usually made by BACS
- We email a remittance advice when payment is made
We expect our suppliers to pay their subcontractors in line with the Prompt Payment Policy (GOV.UK).
We may withhold payment if goods or services do not meet contract requirements. Late payment provisions apply under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
Procurement pipeline notices
Under the new UK Procurement Regulations, Riverside publishes pipeline notices to give early notice of future opportunities.
What pipeline notices tell you:
- Planned procurements over the next 18 months
- Contracts with an estimated value over £2 million
- Updated once a year
These notices are published on:
- Find a Tender Service (FTS)
- The Central Digital Platform
Suppliers can access this information free of charge to help plan ahead.
For more information, visit Find a Tender
Our social value
Pages in this section
Donations to community initiatives
- Riverside Foundation – supporting community action, inclusion and tackling poverty
- GROW (Giving Real Opportunities for Work) – helping people with lived experience into fixed‑term jobs, building skills and confidence
- Job starter packs – funding essentials like phones, work clothes, PPE and travel
- Home starter packs – helping people moving into independent accommodation
- Feed a Family scheme – providing meal boxes during the cost‑of‑living crisis
Employment and training opportunities
- Jobs for Riverside customers
- Apprenticeships
- Meaningful work placements
- Skills‑based volunteering to support communities and help people into work