Urgent Brief – Drug & Alcohol Test Refusals April 2023
The Sentinel Scheme Rules are clear that if an individual leaves site to avoid a Drug and Alcohol (D&A) test ‘post incident’ or ‘for cause’ that it is classed as…

Later this year, significant new regulations will come into effect that will transform public procurement – the Procurement Act 2023. Following the laying of secondary legislation last month, many organisations who procure services will be putting in place plans to adopt the new legislation from October this year.
This is an important piece of legislation that will change the way the public sector buys goods and services. As a provider of services to organisations falling under the Act there are things that you need to be aware off.
For those who are currently under a contract with a Buyer the existing rules will continue to apply as these contracts are ‘in progress’. However for all new procurements post October, it is important that you understand the changes. During the next few months of preparation, you will start to see Buyers providing you with their processes for compliance. We have already had some communications from RISQS in regard to these changes.
https://www.risqs.org/news/RISQS-webinar-New-procurement-regulations—and- what-it-means-for-you
The Cabinet Office, who are leading the Transforming Public Procurement programme, will also be providing regular updates, therefore if you haven’t done so- we encourage you to check in to the dedicated gov.uk page. There are also plenty of conferences, webinars and events being run where you can gain more information of the new regime.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/procurement-act-2023-guidance- documents
A key objective for the Procurement Act 2023 was to make it easier for suppliers to do business with the public sector- as such there are some core benefits for suppliers once the new regime goes live in October, including:
This is a long-term change, so although these benefits may not be visible on day one – the new regime will help break down barriers to entry into procurement.
Procurement teams will now be working through the necessary training and guidance materials, so they are ready to operate under the new regulations and realise the benefits of the new regime when it goes live.
The Cabinet Office will continue working with leading business groups and trade associations to make sure information is available for suppliers.
There is already a range of information and resources about the new regime on the Transforming Public Procurement landing page.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transforming-public-procurement
If you haven’t already- we strongly recommend you watch the ‘Knowledge Drop’ videos with dedicated versions designed specifically for suppliers, including SME and VCSE suppliers – these will give you a broader understanding of the changes which will be coming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMln_FclCKM
These changes will impact all buyers and Suppliers of goods and services in the UK. Please ensure you are familiar with the changes and how to position your business in readiness for implementation later this year.
The Sentinel Scheme Rules are clear that if an individual leaves site to avoid a Drug and Alcohol (D&A) test ‘post incident’ or ‘for cause’ that it is classed as…