By Mission 55!

Who this playbook is for

Small businesses, charities, CICs, and sole traders who want to sell products or services to UK universities and need a clear, realistic understanding of how universities make buying decisions.

What this playbook helps you do

This playbook explains how higher education procurement actually works — from internal decision-making and timing, to compliance, pricing, pilots, and renewals — so you can engage universities with confidence and avoid common, costly mistakes.

It is designed to help small suppliers position themselves as credible, low-risk partners in a complex, committee-driven environment.

What’s included

The Playbook (PDF)

• How UK universities are structured and who influences buying decisions
• How procurement operates in practice (from idea to contract award)
• Where small suppliers realistically fit — and where they don’t
• How to approach pilots, pricing, renewals, and long-term sustainability
• Common pitfalls that stall or derail university sales

The Mission 55 Toolkit (Downloadable resources)

A structured set of practical tools designed to support real-world planning and engagement:

• Stakeholder Mapping Worksheet – identify who raises requests, shapes specifications, controls budgets, signs contracts, and holds veto power
• Procurement Lifecycle Timeline – understand how purchases move from idea → business case → procurement → tender → award, and align activity with the academic year
• Compliance Checklist – a ready-made list covering GDPR, IT security, accessibility, sustainability, and financial requirements
• Bid Readiness Scorecard – assess compliance, stakeholder engagement, financial resilience, and value proposition before bidding
• Outreach Email Bank – example email snippets tailored for IT, academics, procurement, and student services
• Pilot Pricing Template – structure low-risk pilots under £25k to reduce procurement friction
• Renewal Pack Template – evidence delivery, impact, and value at renewal time
• Security Questionnaire Preparation Guide – pre-filled answers to common IT security questions
• Reflection Worksheets – prompts linked to each section of the playbook to turn insight into action

All toolkit resources are practical, reusable, and designed specifically for UK higher education contexts.

How it’s delivered

• Instant digital download (playbook PDF + toolkit files) after purchase
• Access details provided by email

Pricing & VAT

• VAT will be added at checkout where applicable
• A VAT invoice is provided automatically

Support

Please contact info@mission55.co.uk for support.