diff --git a/.github/actions/acceptance-tests-setup/action.yaml b/.github/actions/acceptance-tests-setup/action.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0542e42f8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/acceptance-tests-setup/action.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+name: Acceptance tests
+description: "Run acceptance tests for this repo"
+
+inputs:
+
+  targetComponent:
+    description: Name of the component under test
+    required: true
+
+  skipRestore:
+    description: 'Skips restoring from caches'
+    required: false
+    default: true
+
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+
+  steps:
+    - name: Fetch terraform output
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@634f93cb2916e3fdff6788551b99b062d0335ce0 # v5
+      with:
+        name: terraform-output-${{ inputs.targetComponent }}
+
+    - name: "Restore node_modules from cache"
+      uses: ./.github/actions/node-modules-cache
+      with:
+        node_version: "22.22.0"
+        skip_restore: "${{ inputs.skipRestore }}"
+
+    - name: Generate outputs file
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        root_dir=${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}
+        mv ./terraform_output.json ./sandbox_tf_outputs.json
+        npm run generate-outputs sandbox-output
+
+    - name: "Restore playwright dependencies from cache"
+      uses: ./.github/actions/playwright-cache
+      with:
+        playwright_version: "1.59.1"
+        skip_restore: "${{ inputs.skipRestore }}"
+
+    - name: "Restore next build from cache"
+      uses: ./.github/actions/next-build-cache
+      with:
+        node_version: "22.22.0"
+        skip_restore: "${{ inputs.skipRestore }}"
diff --git a/.github/actions/acceptance-tests/action.yaml b/.github/actions/acceptance-tests/action.yaml
index 68c8e5cfd5..9855f37f6c 100644
--- a/.github/actions/acceptance-tests/action.yaml
+++ b/.github/actions/acceptance-tests/action.yaml
@@ -23,21 +23,12 @@ runs:
   using: "composite"
 
   steps:
-    - name: Fetch terraform output
-      uses: actions/download-artifact@634f93cb2916e3fdff6788551b99b062d0335ce0 # v5
+    - name: Acceptance tests setup
+      uses: ./.github/actions/acceptance-tests-setup
       with:
-        name: terraform-output-${{ inputs.targetComponent }}
-    - name: "Repo setup"
-      shell: bash
-      run: |
-        npm ci
+        skipRestore: false
+        targetComponent: "${{ inputs.targetComponent }}"
 
-    - name: Generate outputs file
-      shell: bash
-      run: |
-        root_dir=${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}
-        mv ./terraform_output.json ./sandbox_tf_outputs.json
-        npm run generate-outputs sandbox-output
 
     - name: Run test - ${{ inputs.testType }}
       shell: bash
diff --git a/.github/actions/next-build-cache/action.yaml b/.github/actions/next-build-cache/action.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc5072cec1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/next-build-cache/action.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+name: 'Node modules cache + setup'
+description: 'Run nextjs build, restoring from cache if possible'
+
+inputs:
+  node_version:
+    description: 'Node.js version'
+    required: true
+  cache_lock_path:
+    description: 'Path(s) to package-lock.json for cache key'
+    required: false
+    default: '**/package-lock.json'
+  skip_restore:
+    description: 'Skips restoring next build'
+    required: false
+    default: false
+
+runs:
+  using: 'composite'
+  steps:
+
+    - name: 'Restore next build from cache'
+      id: next-build-cache
+      uses: actions/cache@0057852bfaa89a56745cba8c7296529d2fc39830 # v4
+      with:
+        path: |
+          frontend/.next
+        key: ${{ runner.os }}-next-build-${{ inputs.node_version }}-${{ hashFiles(inputs.cache_lock_path) }}
+        lookup-only: ${{ inputs.skip_restore }}
+
+    - name: 'Install dependencies (cache miss)'
+      if: steps.node-modules-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        INCLUDE_AUTH_PAGES=true npm run build
diff --git a/.github/actions/node-modules-cache/action.yaml b/.github/actions/node-modules-cache/action.yaml
index 3a13ec9376..9d398031d2 100644
--- a/.github/actions/node-modules-cache/action.yaml
+++ b/.github/actions/node-modules-cache/action.yaml
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ runs:
           node_modules
           **/node_modules
         key: ${{ runner.os }}-node-${{ inputs.node_version }}-${{ hashFiles(inputs.cache_lock_path) }}
-        restore-keys: |
-          ${{ runner.os }}-node-${{ inputs.node_version }}-
         lookup-only: ${{ inputs.skip_restore }}
 
     - name: 'Install dependencies (cache miss)'
diff --git a/.github/actions/playwright-cache/action.yaml b/.github/actions/playwright-cache/action.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b2cc1e8c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/playwright-cache/action.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+name: 'Playwright browser cache'
+description: 'Cache Playwright browser binaries and install system dependencies'
+
+inputs:
+  playwright_version:
+    description: 'Playwright version to cache.'
+    required: true
+    default: ''
+  skip_restore:
+    description: 'Skips restoring playwright browser cache'
+    required: false
+    default: false
+
+runs:
+  using: 'composite'
+  steps:
+
+    - name: 'Restore Playwright browsers from cache'
+      id: playwright-cache
+      uses: actions/cache@0057852bfaa89a56745cba8c7296529d2fc39830 # v4
+      with:
+        path: ~/.cache/ms-playwright
+        key: ${{ runner.os }}-playwright-${{ inputs.playwright_version }}
+        lookup-only: ${{ inputs.skip_restore }}
+
+    - name: 'Install Playwright browsers (cache miss)'
+      if: steps.playwright-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: npx playwright install --with-deps
+
+    - name: 'Install Playwright system dependencies (cache hit)'
+      if: steps.playwright-cache.outputs.cache-hit == 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: npx playwright install-deps
diff --git a/.github/workflows/stage-4-acceptance.yaml b/.github/workflows/stage-4-acceptance.yaml
index 25a6b1f935..38a706e659 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stage-4-acceptance.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stage-4-acceptance.yaml
@@ -46,4 +46,5 @@ jobs:
             --targetWorkflow "dispatch-contextual-tests-dynamic-env.yaml" \
             --targetEnvironment "pr${{ inputs.pr_number }}" \
             --targetAccountGroup "nhs-notify-template-management-dev" \
-            --targetComponent "sbx"
+            --targetComponent "sbx" \
+            --internalRef "feature/CCM-18086_acceptance-tests-setup"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/api.sh b/scripts/tests/api.sh
index 01beadfb7d..8e7550eb90 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/api.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/api.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 set -euo pipefail
-cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
-npx playwright install --with-deps > /dev/null
-cd tests/test-team
+cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/tests/test-team"
 TEST_EXIT_CODE=0
 npm run test:api || TEST_EXIT_CODE=$?
 echo "TEST_EXIT_CODE=$TEST_EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/backend.sh b/scripts/tests/backend.sh
index 8b8440d45b..ad371ae3e5 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/backend.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/backend.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 set -euo pipefail
-cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
-npx playwright install --with-deps > /dev/null
-cd tests/test-team
+cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/tests/test-team"
 TEST_EXIT_CODE=0
 npm run test:backend || TEST_EXIT_CODE=$?
 echo "TEST_EXIT_CODE=$TEST_EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/event.sh b/scripts/tests/event.sh
index 881be48eb3..35e94d02bc 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/event.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/event.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 set -euo pipefail
-cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
-npx playwright install --with-deps > /dev/null
-cd tests/test-team
+cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/tests/test-team"
 TEST_EXIT_CODE=0
 npm run test:event || TEST_EXIT_CODE=$?
 echo "TEST_EXIT_CODE=$TEST_EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/ui-accessibility.sh b/scripts/tests/ui-accessibility.sh
index d139b5d5f8..e81e33bbdb 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/ui-accessibility.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/ui-accessibility.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 set -euo pipefail
-cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
-npx playwright install --with-deps > /dev/null
-cd tests/test-team
+cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/tests/test-team"
 TEST_EXIT_CODE=0
 npm run test:accessibility || TEST_EXIT_CODE=$?
 echo "TEST_EXIT_CODE=$TEST_EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/ui-component.sh b/scripts/tests/ui-component.sh
index eb028b139d..39b2dbc5e7 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/ui-component.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/ui-component.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 set -euo pipefail
-cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
-npx playwright install --with-deps > /dev/null
-cd tests/test-team
+cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/tests/test-team"
 TEST_EXIT_CODE=0
 npm run test:component || TEST_EXIT_CODE=$?
 echo "TEST_EXIT_CODE=$TEST_EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/ui-e2e.sh b/scripts/tests/ui-e2e.sh
index a8e40b9480..14ddc9282b 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/ui-e2e.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/ui-e2e.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 set -euo pipefail
-cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
-npx playwright install --with-deps > /dev/null
-cd tests/test-team
+cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/tests/test-team"
 TEST_EXIT_CODE=0
 npm run test:e2e || TEST_EXIT_CODE=$?
 echo "TEST_EXIT_CODE=$TEST_EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/ui-user-timeout.sh b/scripts/tests/ui-user-timeout.sh
index 5aa840909c..a588b1c39a 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/ui-user-timeout.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/ui-user-timeout.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
 set -euo pipefail
-cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
-npx playwright install --with-deps > /dev/null
-cd tests/test-team
+cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/tests/test-team"
 TEST_EXIT_CODE=0
 npm run test:user-timeout || TEST_EXIT_CODE=$?
 echo "TEST_EXIT_CODE=$TEST_EXIT_CODE"
diff --git a/tests/test-team/config/accessibility/accessibility.config.ts b/tests/test-team/config/accessibility/accessibility.config.ts
index 8b7291b954..d4446c1d4b 100644
--- a/tests/test-team/config/accessibility/accessibility.config.ts
+++ b/tests/test-team/config/accessibility/accessibility.config.ts
@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
 import baseConfig from '../playwright.config';
 
-const buildCommand = [
-  'INCLUDE_AUTH_PAGES=true',
-  'npm run build && npm run start',
-].join(' ');
-
 export default defineConfig({
   ...baseConfig,
   fullyParallel: true,
@@ -46,7 +41,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
   /* Run your local dev server before starting the tests */
   webServer: {
     timeout: 4 * 60 * 1000, // 4 minutes
-    command: buildCommand,
+    command: 'npm run start',
     cwd: path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../..'),
     url: 'http://localhost:3000/templates/create-and-submit-templates',
     reuseExistingServer: !process.env.CI,
diff --git a/tests/test-team/config/api/api.setup.ts b/tests/test-team/config/api/api.setup.ts
index 1d89bceade..fa00c77d72 100644
--- a/tests/test-team/config/api/api.setup.ts
+++ b/tests/test-team/config/api/api.setup.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { BackendConfigHelper } from 'nhs-notify-web-template-management-util-bac
 import { getTestContext } from 'helpers/context/context';
 
 setup('api test setup', async () => {
+  setup.setTimeout(60_000);
+
   const backendConfig = BackendConfigHelper.fromTerraformOutputsFile(
     path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', '..', 'sandbox_tf_outputs.json')
   );
diff --git a/tests/test-team/config/component/component.config.ts b/tests/test-team/config/component/component.config.ts
index b8e6883298..b0ea81d550 100644
--- a/tests/test-team/config/component/component.config.ts
+++ b/tests/test-team/config/component/component.config.ts
@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
 import baseConfig from '../playwright.config';
 
-const buildCommand = [
-  'INCLUDE_AUTH_PAGES=true',
-  'npm run build && npm run start',
-].join(' ');
-
 export default defineConfig({
   ...baseConfig,
 
@@ -46,7 +41,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
   /* Run your local dev server before starting the tests */
   webServer: {
     timeout: 4 * 60 * 1000, // 4 minutes
-    command: buildCommand,
+    command: 'npm run start',
     cwd: path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../..'),
     url: 'http://localhost:3000/templates/create-and-submit-templates',
     reuseExistingServer: !process.env.CI,
diff --git a/tests/test-team/config/e2e/e2e.config.ts b/tests/test-team/config/e2e/e2e.config.ts
index 1f40fe915d..f2a61b8ba7 100644
--- a/tests/test-team/config/e2e/e2e.config.ts
+++ b/tests/test-team/config/e2e/e2e.config.ts
@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
 import baseConfig from '../playwright.config';
 
-const buildCommand = [
-  'INCLUDE_AUTH_PAGES=true',
-  'npm run build && npm run start',
-].join(' ');
-
 export default defineConfig({
   ...baseConfig,
   fullyParallel: true,
@@ -46,7 +41,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
   /* Run your local dev server before starting the tests */
   webServer: {
     timeout: 4 * 60 * 1000, // 4 minutes
-    command: buildCommand,
+    command: 'npm run start',
     cwd: path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../..'),
     url: 'http://localhost:3000/templates/create-and-submit-templates',
     reuseExistingServer: !process.env.CI,
diff --git a/tests/test-team/config/user-timeout/user-timeout.config.ts b/tests/test-team/config/user-timeout/user-timeout.config.ts
index bc3871d8da..b902e5827a 100644
--- a/tests/test-team/config/user-timeout/user-timeout.config.ts
+++ b/tests/test-team/config/user-timeout/user-timeout.config.ts
@@ -2,13 +2,6 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
 import baseConfig from '../playwright.config';
 
-const buildCommand = [
-  'INCLUDE_AUTH_PAGES=true',
-  'NEXT_PUBLIC_TIME_TILL_LOGOUT_SECONDS=25',
-  'NEXT_PUBLIC_PROMPT_SECONDS_BEFORE_LOGOUT=5',
-  'npm run build && npm run start',
-].join(' ');
-
 export default defineConfig({
   ...baseConfig,
 
@@ -50,7 +43,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
   /* Run your local dev server before starting the tests */
   webServer: {
     timeout: 4 * 60 * 1000, // 4 minutes
-    command: buildCommand,
+    command: 'npm run start',
     cwd: path.resolve(__dirname, '../../../..'),
     url: 'http://localhost:3000/templates/create-and-submit-templates',
     reuseExistingServer: !process.env.CI,