Ffrâm24: Bringing Wales together to build a stronger future
Yesterday, we hosted a landmark event at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena — a conference and exhibition that brought together voices from across Wales’ public, private and third sectors to shape the future of procurement in the building materials sector.
As Wales’ leading building materials framework, Ffrâm24 showcased the power of collaboration and innovation in building a more sustainable and resilient Welsh economy.
We were honoured to welcome Jack Sargeant AS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, who delivered the keynote address. The Minister highlighted the Welsh Government’s ongoing consultation on socially responsible public procurement and emphasised the importance of reinvesting in our local communities.
With over 200 attendees and more than 50 exhibitors, the event was buzzing with energy and optimism. Delegates had the chance to network, share ideas and hear from a fantastic line-up of speakers, including:
- Iwan Trefor Jones, Adra
- Dr. Dara Apiri, WRAP Cymru
- Jonathan Rogers, Welsh Government Commercial Delivery
- Penny Haywood, Ardal
- Jessica Thomas & Gareth Corbin, Caerphilly County Borough Council
- Malcolm Davies, Welsh Government & Joe Poole, Configur
- Iain Jordan, Nuaire
- Elgan Richards & Jayesh Parmar, Business Wales
A central hub of activity was the newly formed Collaborative Procurement Hub — a strategic partnership between:
- Ardal
- Business Wales
- Caerphilly County Borough Council
- Ffrâm24
- North Wales Construction Partnership
- Welsh Government
- Welsh Government Commercial Procurement
- WRAP Cymru
Launched in March 2024, Ffrâm24 continues to drive forward sustainable procurement and support Welsh industry — and this event marked a major milestone in that journey.
Reflecting on the success of the event, our Head of Ffrâm24, Martin Burger, said:
“This conference was a great opportunity to showcase our Framework as a cornerstone for Welsh organisations seeking a reliable and quality supply chain.As a Wales-only initiative, the Framework stands out for its significant social impact, directing investment into Welsh companies and ensuring that the social value generated remains within Wales.
The Welsh Government fully endorses Ffrâm24, recognising it as a natural successor to the National Procurement Service building materials framework. It was an honour to welcome the Minister to the event to see first-hand successful examples of organisations working with suppliers on the Framework and how the initiative links into national policy around socially responsible procurement.”
