This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Ensemble Purchasing, London’s shared procurement service supporting organisations across higher education, arts, science, cultural institutions and the wider public sector.
Established to address the challenge many smaller organisations face in accessing specialist procurement expertise, Ensemble Purchasing operates as a VAT-exempt cost sharing group, allowing members to collectively benefit from a high-quality professional procurement service.
Member organisations collectively spend many millions of pounds each year on goods, consultancy and services. However, many do not have the internal capacity to maintain a dedicated procurement function. Ensemble Purchasing was created to bridge this gap by providing a flexible shared service model that gives members access to experienced procurement professionals on a part-time basis.
Over the past decade, Ensemble Purchasing has supported its members with a comprehensive procurement service, ranging from day-to-day transactional processes to complex procurement projects such as building refurbishments or the procurement of Finance and HR/Payroll systems. The service also helps organisations develop procurement strategies, policies and guidance to ensure compliance with legal requirements while delivering value for money.
Members also benefit from supplier relationship management, contract and risk management, spend and benefits reporting, and support to integrate responsible procurement practices aligned with their sustainability goals.
Ensemble Purchasing operates as a non-profit organisation under the control of its members, with each organisation represented on the Ensemble Board. The team is led by experienced Senior Procurement Managers and overseen by the Director of Ensemble, Don Bowman, who also serves as Director of LUPC.
Current participating full members include:
- Royal College of Music
- Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Royal Academy of Music
- Ravensbourne University London
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts
The Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music were founding members back in 2016.
As Ensemble Purchasing celebrates its first decade, the service continues to demonstrate how collaboration can help organisations strengthen governance, manage commercial risk and achieve better value from their procurement activity.
From 1 April 2026, Ensemble Purchasing’s Articles have been amended to include potential membership from across England, with the inclusion of NEUPC, NWUPC and SUPC members.
