Unlocking the potential

Imagine having customers who will give you repeat business for up to four years and who are certain to pay you promptly. This isn't a fairy tale.

By RICHARD CARR

THE UK PUBLIC SECTOR, WHICH INCLUDES LOCAL COUNCILS, THE NHS, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS spends over £300 billion every year on goods and services from private businesses. The UK Government wants one third of that spending to go to Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). However, many small businesses are put off doing it by the tender application process and it is easy to see why. It can be time-consuming, tedious and indeed intimidating to those unfamiliar with it.

Long-term opportunities

The UK's public sector procurement offers a large, stable market with longterm opportunities for companies of all shapes and sizes. If your business sells to other businesses, it’s likely that the public sector could also be a potential customer of yours.

Providing best value

UK public sector procurement operates under regulations that promote transparency, fairness and value for money for taxpayers. This allows businesses of all sizes to compete on a level playing field, as long as they can show that they provide best value. Public bodies follow different procedures depending on the size and nature of the purchases. For smaller, one-time purchases it may just be a matter of getting the cheapest quote.

For larger or repeat orders, they typically issue tenders, requiring companies to not only provide quotes but also write about their track records, case studies, service plans, various kinds of contingency plans, as well as evidence of social value, such as supporting the local community and helping the environment. Many businesses already do this, but struggle to put it into the kind of language that appeals to public bodies.

Richard Carr Consultancy Services is a Wrexham-based bid and tender writing company, which has helped diverse businesses, including builders, plumbers, electrical contractors, health and safety operators, occupational health providers, training providers and security service companies to sell their services to public sector customers.

Richard explains: “We offer a free, noobligation initial consultation for local businesses interested in exploring the UK public sector market. By sharing our knowledge and expertise, we aim to help businesses in and around Wrexham seize valuable opportunities and move forward.”

Richard Carr

Richard Carr Consulting Services richard@tendersandgrants.co.uk tendersandgrants.co.uk