[Provisional] Introduction to Green Public Procurement Training

Please note: This training is currently provisional. We are inviting expressions of interest to help determine demand before confirming the final dates, delivery format and course details. By registering your interest, you will be among the first to be notified once the training is confirmed. The course is expected to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.

The Irish Green Building Council, in conjunction with Greenville, is pleased to deliver a two-part training programme focused on Green Public Procurement (GPP) in the built environment.

This course is specifically designed for professionals working on public sector built environment and infrastructure projects and will equip participants with the practical knowledge and tools needed to integrate sustainability into procurement processes, tenders, and contracts.

Course Overview

This two-session online training will provide:

• A clear introduction to Green Public Procurement principles
• Practical guidance on applying GPP criteria in the built environment
• Insight into EU and Irish policy and regulatory requirements
• Tools and strategies to embed sustainable procurement within organisations

Participants may attend both sessions to gain a comprehensive understanding of GPP from policy through to implementation.

Session 1: Introduction to Green Procurement & Implementation

📅 TBC
🕘 Half- Day (time TBC)
💻 Online (Zoom)

This half-day session introduces participants to the core concepts, tools, and criteria used in Green Public Procurement, with a strong focus on the built environment sector.

Key topics include:

• Principles and approaches underpinning Green Public Procurement
• The impact of GPP on the built environment and infrastructure sector
• Overview of EU and Irish GPP policy and legislation (mandatory vs voluntary)
• GPP criteria: how to apply and verify them in practice
• Tools including CO₂ Performance Ladder
• Irish and international best-practice examples

Who should attend?

This session is ideal for:

• Public sector procurers
• Local authorities and central government agencies
• Contractors, consultants, and advisors working on public infrastructure projects

A general understanding of contracting in the infrastructure or built environment sector is assumed.

Session 2: Green Procurement Strategy & Implementation

📅 TBC
🕘 Half- Day (time TBC)
💻 Online (Zoom)

Building on Session 1, this half-day session explores how to embed sustainable procurement systematically within organisations, drawing on best practice from both the public and private sectors.

Participants will learn how to:

• Assess and benchmark current sustainable procurement practices
• Prioritise actions and set meaningful targets
• Adapt procedures and systems to support sustainable procurement
• Identify roles, responsibilities, and internal resources
• Monitor, measure, and report on procurement outcomes
• Apply Irish and international best-practice examples

Who should attend?

This session is suitable for:

• Public and private sector managers
• Procurement, sustainability, and project teams
• Organisations seeking a structured approach to sustainable procurement

Why Attend?

✔ Gain practical, sector-specific knowledge of GPP
✔ Understand policy, tools, and real-world applications
✔ Build capacity to implement sustainability in procurement decisions
✔ Learn from experienced practitioners and real case studies

Meet the Instructor

Abby Semple, LL.B., Ph.D. is a consultant with over 17 years of experience in advising public bodies on strategic and legal aspects of procurement. Her focus is on the environmental and social impact of public contracts and how these can be meaningfully addressed through the contracting process. Abby has managed complex tenders on behalf of public sector clients in Ireland and the UK, developed policy and guidance at the EU level, and is author of one of the first books on the 2014 EU Procurement Directives A Practical Guide to Public Procurement (Oxford University Press).

Ticket Prices:

• Single Session (Member): €300.00
• Single Session (Non-member): €400.00
• Full Course: 2 Sessions (Member): €500.00
• Full Course: 2 Sessions (Non-member): €600.00

If members or non-members secure 5 or more places they can avail of a 10% discount.

Please note: This training is currently provisional. We are inviting expressions of interest to help determine demand before confirming the final dates, delivery format and course details. By registering your interest, you will be among the first to be notified once the training is confirmed. The course is expected to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.

Express your interest