Six signals it makes sense
1. You spend £250k+ a year on external supply
At that level, a 5–10% saving on sourced categories more than covers an outsourced partner.
2. Sourcing eats a day or more of the wrong person's week
If the owner, an engineer or an office manager is chasing quotes, you're paying senior time for a junior job.
3. You're growing but not ready for a full-time buyer
A permanent hire is £40k–£80k loaded. Outsourcing gives you the capacity without the salary, NI, pension or holiday cover.
4. You rely on one or two suppliers per category
Single-source setups almost always mean overpaying and being exposed on lead times.
5. A new project needs vetted suppliers fast
Tender wins, product launches and new builds are the textbook case for on-demand outsourced sourcing.
6. You've never benchmarked your top suppliers
If prices haven't been market-tested in 12+ months, there's usually 5–15% sitting on the table.
When it doesn't make sense
- You already have an experienced procurement manager and healthy supplier competition
- Spend is low, stable and locked into long-term contracts
- You have no growth plans and no supply pain
In those cases, keep doing what works. Outsourcing is a tool, not a religion.
The fastest way to decide
Pick one requirement — a category you're not sure you're getting a fair price on, or a one-off you don't have time to shop around — and give it to us. You'll see the market rate, our recommended supplier, and the savings vs your current approach. No retainer to start.
For a broader view of the ROI, see our companion piece on procurement outsourcing vs an in-house buyer.