G-Cloud 15 Explained: What UK Councils Need to Know

Quick answer: G-Cloud 15 is the UK government's newest cloud procurement framework. It went live in August 2026, and it lets councils buy pre-approved cloud software, like SpacetoCo's venue booking platform, without running a full tender. SpacetoCo has just been awarded supplier status on G-Cloud 15.

We're delighted to share the news that SpacetoCo has been awarded supplier status on G-Cloud 15. This means it's now faster and simpler for your council to bring on our venue and community space management software.

Below is a plain-English, question-by-question guide to G-Cloud 15: what it is, when it went live, who's on it, and how to actually buy software like SpacetoCo through it.

On this page:

• What is G-Cloud15
• What's new in G-Cloud 15
• What are the main benefits of using G-Cloud for councils?
• How do I find the best supplier on G-Cloud?
• Is SpacetoCo on G-Cloud 15?
• Frequently asked questions
  

What is G-Cloud?

G-Cloud is a list of cloud software, hosting and support suppliers the government has already checked, so public sector buyers, councils included, can buy from them directly instead of running a full tender each time.

Central government departments, NHS trusts, police forces, universities and local councils all use it. Normally, a council would write its own tender, weigh up bids, and check a supplier's credentials from scratch every time it wanted new software. G-Cloud does that work once, centrally, for everyone. Every supplier on it has already been checked against standard commercial, technical and security requirements. You simply browse services on the Digital Marketplace, compare suppliers, and sign up directly. That's a process that usually takes weeks, not months.

What’s new in G-Cloud 15?

G-Cloud 15 is the newest edition of the framework, replacing G-Cloud 14. It's the first G-Cloud to run under the Procurement Act 2023, and it's one of the biggest overhauls the framework has seen.

Here's what's changed since G-Cloud 14:

• Bigger scale. G-Cloud 15 is set to support around £14 billion of public sector cloud spend over its lifetime, up from roughly £4.8 billion under G-Cloud 14, with about £3 billion expected to flow through it every year. (GOV.UK)
• Longer contracts. You can now sign up for up to 60 months, and up to 8 years for some hosting suppliers. That's a lot more stability than G-Cloud 14 offered. (Sharpe Pritchard)
• A simpler way to browse. Suppliers now sit under three straightforward categories, hosting, software and support, with a smarter classification system built to help you find the right one faster, including smaller suppliers. (GOV.UK)
• A stronger security baseline. Every supplier must hold, or be working towards, Cyber Essentials accreditation, with extra certifications required for hosting providers. (Computer Weekly)
• A bigger role for SMEs. GCA reports that around 90% of suppliers awarded a place on G-Cloud 15 are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). That's a strong sign of G-Cloud sticking to its original aim: opening up public sector IT spend beyond the largest suppliers. (GOV.UK, The Register)

So the purpose hasn't changed: a fast, pre-approved route to buying cloud services. What's new is the scale, the longer contract options, and a framework rebuilt for the government's current procurement rules. Win win!

When did G-Cloud 15 go live?

G-Cloud 15 was originally due to go live in September 2026, but GCA moved things forward by about six weeks. It was awarded on 6 August 2026, and buyer access opens from early September 2026.

G-Cloud 14 stays open in parallel until it expires on 28 October 2026, so there's an overlap of nearly three months to make the switch. One thing worth knowing: contracts already running under G-Cloud 14 stay under G-Cloud 14 terms, you can't move an existing contract across. So any new purchase from mid-August 2026 onwards should go through G-Cloud 15.

Which suppliers are part of G-Cloud 15?

G-Cloud 15 includes thousands of suppliers. Because the list is huge and changes often, the best way to browse everyone currently listed, or check if a specific company is on there, is the official Digital Marketplace.

Suppliers on G-Cloud fall into three groups:

• Cloud hosting: the infrastructure and platforms behind software (IaaS/PaaS)
• Cloud software: off-the-shelf and SaaS software, including venue and space management platforms!
• Cloud support: help with setup, migration and ongoing support

You'll find us under Lot 2: Cloud Software. Just search "SpacetoCo" or "venue booking software." or here.

What are the main benefits of using G-Cloud for councils?

For councils, buying through G-Cloud comes down to four things: speed, assurance, choice and value.

• Speed. Suppliers are pre-approved, so you can go from identifying a need to signing a contract in weeks, not the months a full open tender usually takes.
• A lighter procurement burden. Standard terms and pre-checked supplier credentials mean your procurement and legal teams don't need to draft bespoke contracts or re-check financial and security standing every time.
• Compliance built in. Every G-Cloud supplier has already been through a standard set of checks covering financial stability, security certifications (including Cyber Essentials) and service quality. That gives you confidence without doing the legwork yourself.
• Transparent pricing. Costs are published upfront on the Digital Marketplace, so it's easy to compare suppliers on price and capability, and to meet the audit and scrutiny requirements councils are subject to.
• Access to specialist and SME suppliers. You're not limited to large generalist vendors. There's real choice among suppliers who've built their product for local government use cases, like venue hire, community centre management, or space booking!
• Flexibility. G-Cloud runs on an "on demand" model, well suited to pay-as-you-go software rather than long, rigid infrastructure contracts. G-Cloud 15's longer contract options now add more stability on top, where you need it.

How do I find the best supplier on G-Cloud?

Here's a practical approach for council teams:

1. Search by category and keyword, not just supplier name. Use the Digital Marketplace's filters and keywords like "booking and scheduling" or "venue and facilities management," to get the most relevant results.
2. Read the service definition document. Every listing includes a document explaining exactly what's included, what's excluded, and how support works. Read it before booking a demo, so there are no surprises later.
3. Check security and compliance certifications. Look for ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials (mandatory under G-Cloud 15), and any sector-specific standards relevant to your data.
4. Compare pricing structures, not just headline cost. Some suppliers price per venue, per booking, or per transaction. Make sure you're comparing like for like against your council's actual usage.
5. Look for hands-on local government experience. A supplier who already works with councils will understand your needs better (for venue management that could include things like community pricing tiers, multi-venue management, and complex financial reconciliation.)
6. Ask for a demo and reference customers. G-Cloud clears away the procurement barrier, but you should still evaluate suppliers the normal way. Ask to see the product in action and speak to existing council customers before you sign anything.

That's it. No procurement portal to build from scratch, no waiting months for approval, just a search, a demo, and a signature.

Is SpacetoCo on G-Cloud 15?

Yes. In case you missed it… SpacetoCo has been awarded supplier status on G-Cloud 15, and we're excited! UK councils, community venues and housing associations can now buy our venue and space management platform through this government procurement service framework, no separate open tender needed. (Need the steps? Jump back up to How do I find the best supplier on G-Cloud.)

Why did SpacetoCo join G-Cloud?

SpacetoCo was built to help councils and community venues get more out of the spaces they already have, instead of paying for new ones. That mission has always meant working closely with local government, so being awarded supplier status on G-Cloud 15 feels like a natural next step. It puts our venue and community space management platform in front of every UK council evaluating cloud software through a framework they already trust, and gives councils a faster, lower-risk way to bring us on board.

Why choose SpacetoCo through G-Cloud?

• Built for councils, not adapted for them. SpacetoCo combines bookings management, a public-facing venue marketplace, integrated payments and automated financial reconciliation in one system. It's built around how councils actually manage venue hire, not retrofitted from generic booking software.
• Less admin, more bookings. Automated invoicing, reconciliation and bond or deposit handling take the manual chasing off your facilities team's plate, while our public marketplace listing helps drive new bookings to under-used council spaces.
• Built for council compliance and flexibility. Manage VAT, track public liability insurance, automate bond collection and refunds, and handle booking change requests, all with audit-friendly transparency.
• A faster route to procurement. Because we're on G-Cloud 15, you can skip the open tender process and sign up directly.

We're proud to say SpacetoCo is the only option on G-Cloud 15 that gives you a discoverable marketplace alongside a purpose-built platform for managing bookings, automated invoicing, and reconciliation. Add our dedicated UK team, who already work closely with local authorities, and you've got a system genuinely built for how councils do things.

Want to see SpacetoCo's venue management platform in action, or need a hand finding our listing on G-Cloud 15? Get in touch with our team for a demo.

Frequently Asked Questions