Business News
Businesses to get free use of Government database
SMALL and medium-sized businesses
in the North-East are to be
given free access to a Government
database of public sector
contract opportunities, giving
them scope to bid for more local
authority work.
In a trial that lasts until July
31, any business can gain access
to a log of Government procurement
contracts valued under
£100,000 in the UK and Ireland,
through the Supply2 website -
supply2.gov.uk.
The move is part of the Department
for Business' enterprise
strategy released in March,
which outlined new measures to
increase the amount of Government
business won by small
firms. It is also in line with the
aim, set out by Chancellor Alistair
Darling in his Budget, of
small businesses winning 30
per cent of public sector work.
It also comes as another boost
to the Buy North-East campaign,
run by The Northern Echo and
the North-East Chamber of Commerce
(NECC), which aims to
help local authorities recognise
the benefits of awarding contracts
to the region's businesses.
NECC research shows the regional
economy would grow by
£1.35bn and 6,000 jobs would be
created if the public sector spent
an extra one per cent each year
until 2016 contracting services
from within the North-East.
The move was welcomed as a
boost for Buy North-East, and for
small businesses in general.
Ross Smith, head of policy and
research at NECC, said: "It is
very welcome to see the Government
recognising the calls from
businesses, and from Buy North-
East, to make it easier for businesses
of all sizes and from all
sectors to bid for public sector
contracts. This is now an issue
that is very clearly on the Government
agenda, and provides
potentially great opportunities
for businesses in the North-
East."
John Wright, national chairman
of the Federation of Small
Businesses, called for local authorities
to ensure opportunities
for small businesses are advertised
on the Supply2 website.
"The announcement of a free
trial for small businesses to get
access to public sector contracts
is very welcome news. We supported
the Supply2 initiative
from the outset and we hope that
this free trial period will encourage
more small businesses to try
their hand at delivering goods
and services to the public sector,"
he said.
Shriti Vadera MP, the Government's
Business Minister, said:
"Introducing Britain's small
firms to Government procurement
contracts online will provide
opportunities to grow that
they would not have otherwise
found.
"Opening up public sector procurement
to small businesses
can and should eradicate the
false assumption that biggest is
always best."
8:49am Thursday 8th May 2008
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