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Case Type 2 ::The Procurement Centre
Thu 22nd Jan 2009, 10:45am
The Procurement Centre is delivered in partnership with GO Wansbeck, Northumberland County Council and the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC). The Procurement Centre employs two business development workers. One role is to support local businesses to help them become ‘tender ready’. The second role is to seek procurement opportunities. The main aim of the project is to support the development and growth of local business delivery.
The officers at the Procurement Centre provide guidance to the local business community on health and safety, equality and diversity, environmental policy and quality management including financial information. The two business development workers provide advice about where to find tender opportunities and many opportunities are advertised for free via the Go Wansbeck website. They also provide tips for tendering and will deliver a number of one to one visits to directly support the businesses.
Due to Northumberland County Council’s commitment to supporting SMEs they have taken a lead nationally in splitting contracts so that local suppliers can bid. For example a grass cutting lot was split up so that smaller suppliers could bid and a milk and bread contract was split up in order to attract local suppliers and reduce the food miles of the goods. These practices not only support SMEs but also have a positive impact on the environment and local economy.