Aberavon MP Urges Small Firms to Sign Up For Government Contracts
10th February 2009
Dr Hywel Francis MP is encouraging small firms in Aberavon to sign up to the Government's Supply2.gov.uk website and to take advantage of the thousands of Government contracts available.
In Wales, more than 3,000 businesses have already registered to use the site which provides an up to the minute database of Government contracts for small businesses wishing to supply to the public sector. SME's often have smaller overheads, local knowledge and great flexibility, and can often offer the public sector better value for money than big business.
Local suppliers who have signed up to the site receive advice on how best to access Government contracts and a free daily email alert notifying them of new opportunities that are relevant to their business.
Dr Francis says,
"I am keen to recommend that small businesses in my constituency of Aberavon sign up to this website. In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that small and medium sized companies in the locality take advantage of such business opportunities offered by the Government. The Supply2.gov.uk website is an excellent tool to guide people through this process and inform them of the opportunities available"
Notes to editors:
1. Numbers of contracts advertised are currently at 109,500 with Supply2.gov.uk registrants benefiting from access to lower-value opportunities (typically below £100,000) making them particularly relevant to SME's. Examples of public sector buyers already advertising on the site include local government, health, education and housing authorities, emergency services and the Olympic Delivery Authority. On average there are over 3,000 new opportunities are advertised each month.
2. Supply2.gov.uk is owned by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. It is managed by procurement solutions service provider BiP Solutions Ltd, allowing UK public sector organisations to publicise their lower-value contracts free of charge. Businesses are able to view contracts in a single location, reducing the time taken to source opportunities. Contract information in a business's chosen location is available free of charge - a significant benefit, particularly for SMEs. For further information or to register for the service for free, please visit www.supply2.gov.uk
