Welcome
Tendering
for Success is a one-day seminar designed to improve your knowledge
of the public sector procurement process. It will provide details
on the tendering process and how SMEs can maximise the potential
to be gained from public sector contract opportunities through Supply2.gov.uk
At
the start of 2006, there were 4.5 million business enterprises in
the UK – 600,000 more than in 1997 – employing an estimated
22.4 million people, with an estimated turnover of £2,600
billion.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together accounted for
more than half of employment (58.9 per cent) and more than half
of turnover (59.1 per cent). Almost all of these enterprises (99.3
per cent) were classified as small companies with 0 to 49 employees.*
*Source: Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR)
administered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2006.
Supply2.gov.uk
– an open market where any business, no matter what size or
type, can participate
Supply2.gov.uk
is the only official government lower-value contract opportunity
portal. Created by the Government, it is specifically designed to
give small businesses access to lower-value government contract
opportunities (typically below £100,000).
Launched in June 2006, the portal has already advertised in excess
of 69,500 contracts to SMEs throughout Scotland, England, Northern
Ireland and Wales.
Buyers
and suppliers are brought together for the first time, allowing
the portal to achieve its aim of being ‘the first portal of
call for lower-value business opportunities’.
As
a result of this success, the portal is recognised by both business
and government as a useful and effective tool, providing a route
to help small businesses thrive and grow.
Who
are BERR?
On
17 July 2007, Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Competitiveness,
announced the renaming of the Small Business Service as the Enterprise
Directorate. The new name reflects the emphasis placed by the Business,
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) on enterprise
and growth. The Enterprise Directorate continues to be the expert
policy unit on small business issues throughout government.
BERR has lead responsibility for small business and enterprise policy.
The Department works across Whitehall, the Regional Development
Agencies and key delivery partners to ensure that government - national,
regional and local - understands and responds to the needs of small
businesses and entrepreneurs. The Government's aim is to make the
UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business.
Mr
Timms welcomed the news that the Supply2.gov.uk
service is proving to be a valuable business tool to companies across
the country. He said: "Ensuring
all businesses have straightforward access to public sector procurement
opportunities is very important. Supply2.gov.uk
achieves this and benefits both
suppliers and buyers. Companies get the chance to tender for solid
contracts and government gets access to a diverse and creative range
of suppliers."
BERR's Enterprise Directorate retains specialist expertise in policies
which both strengthen the enterprise environment for small businesses
and enable more people and communities to pursue entrepreneurial
opportunities. The Enterprise Directorate's policy work is supported
by a strong research, statistics and analytical function and it
maintains international links, especially with other EU Member States
and the United States.
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