Public Sector Procurement Facilitation
Runcorn and Widnes businesses are getting a helping hand to bid for valuable public sector contracts. Halton Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise working in close partnership with ‘Enterprising Halton Programme’ will assist businesses in Halton to bid for goods and services contracts let by public sector organisations.
Chamber Manager Paula Cain, explained: “The public sector is one of the few buoyant sectors of the economy at the moment, but winning work can involve jumping through some complicated hoops. We want to simplify and demystify the tender process and help local businesses access all the valuable business opportunities that are out there.”
Pictured left to right: Anne Thompson of NWDA, Mike Woods of Building Schools
for the Future, Jean Morris of Halton Borough Council, Eddie Basnett of EBL Ltd and
Procurement Facilitator Andrew Pladgeman.
Public Sector Contracts in the Spotlight
Procurement Events
Record numbers registered for the 1st Procurement Event in October
Nearly 100 Companies met at The Heath. Eric Hudson, Executive Vice Chair, Halton Chamber welcomed attendees including substantial numbers attending their first Chamber event.
Andrew Pladgeman, Procurement Facilitator set out the challenge for sponsor “Halton Enterprise Board” and The Chamber in increasing both the numbers and quality of opportunities in the sector, the challenge for local Companies and the programme of activity planned in response.
Mike Woods, BSF Programme; Jean Morris, Halton Borough Council and Anne Thompson, NWDA set out access routes for over £7bn of opportunities including over 60,000 contracts.
“It’s a competitive but potentially lucrative market to be in, North West Companies are winning contracts in support of Olympics 2012” – Anne Thompson, Sector Leader Sport, NWDA
“It was great to attend the public sector event” – Allan Hutchison, Solutions House Ltd
“Contracts event hailed a success” – Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News
The 2nd Procurement Event was held on the 24 November
The public sector market is huge and opportunities exist at all levels, local, regional, national and international. Halton Borough Council alone has £30m worth of contracts below £5k. This Event focused on how Companies market themselves and offered tips on how to present not just to the Public Sector but across all sectors.
“Inspiring” – Art Rizzotti, Carpet Services & Floor Style
Andrew Pladgeman was joined by Jean Morris and Peter Nunu. Peter of Prosper Associates is a Sales Management Specialist and led an interactive session on marketing, whilst Jean helped with the Pre Qualification Questionnaire, a meaty and sometimes off putting document that comes into play for contracts over £50k.
2010 Procurement Programme
The first two procurement events identified access routes to 60,000 contracts in the public sector and provided useful tips on marketing. The sector is worth £200bn p.a. in the UK and the Chambers task in 2010 is to break that market down and connect buyers and suppliers on a sector specific basis. We will then track the progress of the opportunities presented to see where further support can be provided to increase your chances of winning market share.
Whilst a series of organised events will be scheduled and advertised well in advance, ad hoc events will also take place, sometimes at short notice, to respond to developments in the market. We will announce more details about our plans in e-news and here on the website.
For further information on Procurement:
If you would like further information on the Chamber's Procurement service, please contact Halton Chamber's Office Manager Dianne Kelly:
Telephone - 01928 516141
Email - diannek@haltonchamber.co.uk
Latest Procurement News:
To help access opportunities in the public sector a factsheet “Online Sources of Tendering Opportunities” has been produced by Halton Chamber's Procurement Facilitator Andrew Pladgeman, providing links to those sites perceived to be of most value to Halton businesses. Let Andrew know if you find this helpful, and indeed if he's missed any sites that you use.
Factsheet 1 - online sources of tendering opportunities
Envirolink Northwest 'Buy Recycled' event.
A free event to help both suppliers and buyers incorporate sustainable procurement into their business practices.
Click here to find out more information on this event....
The Construction Hub (NWCH) have just issued the invitations to tender (ITT) for the High Value Framework. This framework will support all publicsector organisations throughout the North West in the delivery oflarge-scale capital projects, in excess of £10,000,000.
Useful resources and links:
London 2012 Presentation from the Halton Chamber Procurement event - if you would like to have a copy of this presentation please send us an email request.
London 2012 - Business publication - click on the link below (pdf) -
London Business Publication
Compete4 Top Tips - click on the link below (word doc)
Compete4 Top Tips list for business
Contract opportunities linked to London Olympics 2012 -
Halton Borough Council Procurement:
Halton Borough Council Procurement Presentation from the Halton Chamber event - if you would like a copy of this presentation please send us an email request.
Halton Borough Council procurement web page -
View new contract opportunities for Halton and other Council's in the North West with an e-tendering portal -
Supply2.gov.uk is a government backedfree portal bringing buyers and suppliers together -
Halton Borough Council Procurement Manager -
Halton Borough Council Procurement Unit Admin Support -
Building Schools for the Future (BSF):
BSF Presentation at the Halton Chamber of Commerce Procurement event - if you would like a copy of this presentation please send us an email request.
Halton BSF Glossary of Abreviations -
Halton Building Schools for the Future Glossary of Abreviations (pdf)