Small Businesses to Get Free Access to Public Sector Contracts

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Press Release

A free trial starts today to provide small and medium sized businesses with access to thousands of public sector contract opportunities.

From 1 May until 31 July 2008, the www.supply2.gov.uk website will allow new registrants to gain free access to public sector contracts valued under £100,000 for the UK and Northern Ireland.

The free trial is part of the Department for Business’ Enterprise Strategy which was released in March, which outlined new measures to increase the amount of government business that is won by small firms.

Business Minister Shriti Vadera said:

“Small and medium sized businesses need our support to expand. Many smaller businesses are more innovative, have lower costs and present better value for taxpayers than larger firms.

“Introducing Britain’s small firms to Government procurement contracts online will provide opportunities to grow that they would not have otherwise found.

“Encouraging more small businesses to register for opportunities will mean buyers benefit from increased competition and access to a wider range of suppliers.”

John Wright, Federation of Small Businesses National Chairman said:

“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.

“But local authorities and government departments must play their part too by making sure that more small business opportunities are advertised on Supply2. Opening up public sector procurement to the UK’s 4.5 million small businesses can and should eradicate the false assumption that biggest is always best.”

More than 3,000 new contracts are available on www.supply2.gov.uk each month. The three month free trial, available to businesses registering for the first time, will provide access to contracts throughout the UK rather than in a nominated local area.

The Enterprise Strategy featured a range of measures to boost small firms competing for public procurement. An advisory committee, headed by Anne Glover, will look at ways to reduce barriers that small businesses face when competing for public sector contracts and the practicality of setting a goal for them to win 30 per cent of public sector business within five years.

The Strategy also included an announcement that the rules for government procurement will be changed to allow companies, particularly small firms, to use invoice financing to compete for public contracts.

 

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