Local Government Contracts Australia and SHOP Consulting Merge.
In 2022, SHOP Consulting was founded with a clear mission: to support local governments across Australia in achieving excellence through compliant, ethical, and effective procurement practices. Starting as a boutique consultancy with just two employees, SHOP quickly earned a reputation as a trusted advisor in public sector procurement, tender facilitation, probity assurance, policy development and training.
Over the next three years, SHOP Consulting quickly expanded and proudly partnered with councils nationwide, helping to shape best practices and deliver value-driven outcomes. As the demand for more scalable and modern procurement solutions grew, Managing Director Michael Robinson identified a critical opportunity to further support the sector.
In response, Local Government Contracts Australia (LGCA) was launched twelve months ago as a standalone company. Purpose-built to offer aggregated procurement services to simplify how councils collaborate, procure, and manage contracts, LGCA introduced a new level of innovation and competition to the sector—delivering superior value for money for councils and their communities.
As both Shop Consulting and LGCA evolved under the same leadership, it became increasingly clear that integrating their services under a single brand would provide even greater benefit to clients and the broader sector. The decision was made and today marks a significant milestone as SHOP Consulting and LGCA will now operate together under the unified brand of Local Government Contracts Australia.
This is more than a rebrand—it is a strategic unification of purpose. By aligning their consulting expertise with the national contract aggregation platform, this creates a seamless, end-to-end procurement solution for local governments across Australia.
From humble beginnings, the team has grown to fifteen professionals with deep and diverse experience. Many of its members have walked the halls of local councils, worked for aggregated procurement firms, and advised local government in consulting roles. As local governments face increasing pressure to deliver more with less, the role of experienced, agile partners becomes ever more critical. Michael Robinson cites training and mentoring the next generation of local government procurement professionals as a key area of support which remains as one of his passions.
The team is incredibly excited about this new chapter and the expanded capacity it brings. With continued support from councils and stakeholders, LGCA looks forward to broadening its impact, evolving its services, and collaborating with councils nationwide to support compliance, innovation, and value-for-money outcomes in public procurement.
For more information, visit www.lgca.com.au or contact info@lgca.com.au.
