G-Cloud is THE place to be for technology providers looking to sell their cloud-based solutions to the UK government. Since its first iteration in 2012, over £20 billion worth of sales has been made through the framework. 38% of this spend has been through SME providers, a stat that looks much greater when honing in on the last couple of years – 43% in 2023 and 44% in 2024!
Currently in its 14th iteration, the G-Cloud 15 framework is due to open for applications 23rd October 2025 – here’s everything you need to know.
How much has been spent through G-Cloud so far?
Since its launch in 2012, G-Cloud has facilitated over £20 billion of public sector spend with suppliers. In 2023/24 alone, spend through G-Cloud reached £3.1 billion, plus £0.5 million through the newer Cloud Compute framework.
The UK public sector cloud market is estimated at £6 billion in 2024, showing just how significant this opportunity is.
When does G-Cloud 15 open?
The ITT for G-Cloud 15 will be published on 23rd October 2025, with applications running through late 2025 and the framework award due by 20th July 2026. The framework is then expected to go live in August 2026.
This marks a shift from earlier announcements of a delay to 2026 — so suppliers now have far less time to prepare than originally thought.
What’s changing in G-Cloud 15?
There are some important structural and procedural changes this year:
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Lot consolidations: Cloud Compute will be merged into the main G-Cloud structure.
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Lot 4 removed: Direct call-off and with-competition routes will apply across all Lots.
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Evaluation updates: Bids will be assessed on Social Value, Quality, and Price, with greater emphasis on compliance.
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Financial standing checks (EFS): Now applied per Lot, rather than one blanket requirement.
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Digital enhancements: CCS has signalled improvements to both the buyer and supplier experience on the Digital Marketplace.
What will the framework structure be for G-Cloud 15?
While still subject to final CCS confirmation, the Lots are expected to be:
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Lot 1: Cloud Hosting (IaaS/PaaS, including compute services)
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Lot 2: Cloud Software (SaaS applications)
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Lot 3: Cloud Support (services such as migration, implementation, and managed support)
Who can apply?
G-Cloud is open to suppliers of off-the-shelf cloud hosting, software, and support services. This includes:
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SMEs and new entrants looking for a straightforward route into public sector sales
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Established providers aiming to expand their reach across government, NHS, education, and local authorities
G-Cloud remains one of the most SME-friendly frameworks, with over a third of spend going to smaller suppliers in recent years.
What’s the application process like?
The process usually goes as follows:
- Suppliers are asked a series of pass/fail questions regarding background and compliance.
- Online questions are asked about the individual solution or service offering. These make up the body of the listing and are what is called the ‘front-end listing’. This includes a brief description of a supplier’s services, as well as a list of key features and benefits.
- Suppliers have to upload a mandatory Service Definition. Which includes a much more in-depth breakdown of a supplier’s offering.
- Supplementary documents also need to be provided. Suppliers are required to upload a copy of their pricing and terms and conditions.
However, we’re predicting a much more competitive application for G-Cloud 15, with it being less open and straight forward. A process that will deviate from the previous applications of the last few iterations is expected this time around as Crown Commercial Service look to revamp the framework. Although we can’t say for certain what that application looks like, there may be more limited spaces on some of the Lots – and a fair bit more required to get successfully listed, similar to other more competitive frameworks. It’s part of UK Gov’s effort to make the framework a bit more competitive and reflect the new Procurement Act 2023 changes that come into play in 2025.
What’s the benefit of being listed on the G-Cloud framework?
G-Cloud is a compliant route to market for above-threshold procurements and is the biggest framework on the market! Almost everyone in the public sector has heard of G-Cloud, and you will be asked by prospective buyers whether you’re on it – if you turn around and say ‘no’, it’s not going to reflect well on you as a public sector supplier.
The framework is known for being SME-friendly, due to the catalogue format and very low barriers to entry. 90% of the current 5,200+ G-Cloud suppliers are SMEs and 38% of sales across all iterations of G-Cloud have been made by SMEs.
How do Buyers use G-Cloud?
Public sector organisations use G-Cloud to directly award contracts or run mini-competitions. The process is designed to be faster and more flexible than traditional tenders, with contracts often awarded in weeks rather than months.
Buyers must still follow the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principles, balancing quality, price, and social value in their decisions.
You can read the official G-Cloud buyers’ guide for more detail.
Why does preparation matter?
Every round of G-Cloud is highly competitive. Applications are rejected if suppliers:
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Submit marketing-style copy that doesn’t meet CCS compliance rules
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Miss mandatory sections of the listing template
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Leave their application until the final weeks and run out of time
With higher entry standards expected in G-Cloud 15, early planning is more important than ever.
Where can I get G-Cloud 15 support?
At Advice Cloud, we’ve supported 494 suppliers across 870 listings on G-Cloud, with a 100% success rate. On G-Cloud 14 alone, we helped 95 clients secure 150 listings – every single one successful.
If you’d like expert guidance to get your listing right, we’re here to help. Book a free G-Cloud 15 planning call now.
