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Businesses to get free use of Government database
Thu 22nd Jan 2009, 10:17am
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, 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."