News
Meet the Buyer 2020 Round-up: East Renfrewshire Council
On 2 June, the Supplier Development Programme (SDP) organised virtual activities to mark the occasion of what would have been the 12th annual Meet the Buyer event. While the face-to-face event was postponed, SDP carried out a “Twitter Takeover” of its account with buyers from Fife Council, East Renfrewshire Council, South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Government Procurement. This social media activity was complemented by two free SDP tender training webinars on Dynamic Purchasing Systems and Frameworks with Scotland Excel, and a “how-to” interactive session on using Public Contracts Scotland, the national public sector tender portal for Scotland. This round-up outlines what was said during East Renfrewshire Council's Twitter Takeover of the SDP Twitter account as part of Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event activities.
East Renfrewshire Council used the time on the SDP Twitter account to discuss the topic, “Progressing the Procurement Pipeline and Future Opportunities with East Renfrewshire Council.” Members of staff from the Corporate Procurement Team and Economic Development Team at East Renfrewshire Council were on hand to answer questions during an hour slot on the SDP Twitter account.
Opening Tweets
Morning, I’m Lorna Wallace of @EastRenCouncil Economic Development & I’m joined by the Corporate Procurement Team for the next hour. We look forward to engaging with you virtually & answering questions. Simply reply to our tweets or @sdpscotland. #MeetTheBuyer2020 #EastRen pic.twitter.com/M1d5nmsWhR
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
We’ve got lots of upcoming procurement opportunities in #EastRen including new construction works, gas maintenance, general trades & RFID for library Management. We use #PCS to publish contract notices. Happy to answer any Qs on opps or the procurement process! #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
The first questions to the East Renfrewshire Team were asked about upcoming contract opportunities from suppliers.
Nothing at the moment. We are using @ScotlandExcel frameworks but any future opps will go via Public Contracts Scotland. Please do drop a note of your details and services to ercprocurement@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk Thanks
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Hi -this will be down to the needs of the council. You can get in touch with the category manager for ICT at ercprocurement@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk Thanks
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Hi Kirstie, if you check our "Current Contract Notices" tab, there is one live: https://t.co/nGTqvWffMU and keep checking back, because more will be published soon! #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Online Trading Network
East Renfrewshire Council then turned attention to the Online Trading Network (OTN). The OTN is a Council directory where companies can register their business to be considered for low value opportunities. Council officers are directed to use the OTN when looking for suitable suppliers to be invited to Quick Quote for goods and services (above £10,000 and under £50,000), and works (above £20,000 and under £150,000). To participate in Quick Quotes businesses must also be registered with PCS.
The OTN can also be used to support purchases for lower value goods and service opportunities up to £10,000 and works up to a value of £20,000 where the procuring department are required to obtain best value and ensure fairness.
East Renfrewshire Council encourages all local businesses to register for the OTN as it continues to promote and encourage supplier development in the local area. (Please note: registering for the OTN does not constitute any form of approved supplier status.)
Interested in being one of our suppliers? Sign up to the Online Trading Network in #EastRen and be invited to quote for small opportunities as they come up: https://t.co/CjKSpnRTVa #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Economic Recovery Plan for East Renfrewshire
Suppliers were asked for their views on what areas in which their business needs support to form a East Renfrewshire Council COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. Suppliers can email East Renfrewshire Council's Economic Development team directly or visit the Economic Development website section for more information.
At @EastRenCouncil we’re developing a #COVID19 Economic Recovery Plan for #EastRen including funding and support to help businesses recover and welcome views from businesses to shape this. Let us know any key areas for you? #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Quick Quotes
East Renfrewshire Council uses Quick Quotes on Public Contracts Scotland for goods, services and works. Be sure to mark in your Supplier Finder Profile that you're interested in working in the East Renfrewshire area if you want to be invited to Quick Quote!
At #EastRen we use #QuickQuote on Public Contracts Scotland to procure goods and services £10k- £50k & works £20k -£150k, register on #PCS today: https://t.co/a3v6J0bzxH #MeetTheBuyer2020 #PowerOfProcurement
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Future Supplier Engagement
East Renfrewshire is interested in holding local supplier engagement events after restrictions from COVID-19 are lifted, and asked what suppliers would like to see developed. Suppliers can email East Renfrewshire Council's Procurement team directly or visit the Corporate Procurement website section for more information.
What type of information would you like from us at future Meet the Buyer events? We’d like to host an @EastRenCouncil event for local SMEs and supported businesses post #COVID19. #MeetTheBuyer2020 #EastRen
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Community Benefits
In response, the East Renfrewshire Council team received another question!2/2 > Advisers can support businesses with a plan to give back to our local communities. Can we help with any Qs on how to include community benefits in your bids? #MeetTheBuyer2020 #GoodForPlaces #GoodForCommunities
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Yes, that would absolutely count as a community benefit. Just speak to our Community Benefit Adviser to link up locally, you can email me at lorna.wallace@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk. #GoodForCommunities #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Glasgow City Region City Deal
City Region Deals are agreements between the UK Government, Scottish Government, local authorities and other partners to invest in cities and regions. They are designed to bring about long-term strategic approaches to improving regional economies. They are implemented by regional partners and overseen by the Scottish City Region Deal Delivery Board. Each Deal is tailored to its city region, reflecting its individual economic strengths and weaknesses, and comprises a programme of interventions to support positive, transformative change. East Renfrewshire Council highlighted to suppliers that new, upcoming opportunities related to the Glasgow City Region City Deal will be posted on Public Contracts Scotland.
Local Glasgow City Region businesses have already benefited from £79 million in contracts from the £1.13 billion #GlasgowCityRegionCityDeal. New @eastrencouncil #EastRen opportunities will be added to Public Contracts Scotland: https://t.co/a3v6J0bzxH #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Business Gateway in East Renfrewshire
Adapting your business in these challenging times or looking to grow your online presence? @bgateway offers free webinars & 1-2-1 consultations with expert advisers. If based in #EastRen @bgeastren can assist you: https://t.co/Y9UNWyVkkx #MeetTheBuyer2020 #SupportScottishBusiness
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Funding for Local Business
East Renfrewshire Council staff then highlighted three sources of funding for local businesses.
COVID-19 Business Support
PropertyOur teams are working hard to make sure local businesses benefit from the #coronavirus Business Support Fund and Newly Self-employed Hardship Fund with £8m awarded to date in #EastRen: https://t.co/hcAO9jY3vw See your local council website for more info! #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Business Loans ScotlandLooking to update your web presence or make improvements to your property? Grant funding is available to develop and strengthen businesses based and trading within #EastRen. For eligibility and to get in touch with an adviser: https://t.co/p0RSmT0ORZ #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
If your business is looking for an affordable source of funding to grow, we want to highlight that £25k-£100K in #businessloans is available from @BLScot. Local advisors can help support your applications: https://t.co/Y7YizVgJyH. #EastRen #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Supplier Questions
East Renfrewshire Council was then asked a question about upcoming contracts by a supplier that replied to an earlier tweet from Fife Council!
Hi #EastRen takeover online. Can you clarify what you mean by employability training? Thanks
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
These are let via our current contracts, which expire at the end of December 2022. Keep an eye on Public Contracts Scotland #PCS for future notices. Hope this helps! #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Final Tweets
East Renfrewshire Council gave further information on procurement and tendering before finishing its hour of participation in SDP's Twitter Takeover, as part of the Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event.
Further info on procurement and our live tendering list in #EastRen can be found here: https://t.co/FU9VWFwRuP and business support here: https://t.co/DJZGXrlrsD #MeetTheBuyer2020
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
However, there was one final question for East Renfrewshire Council! In answering, Procurement gave top tips to suppliers: read the question and get in touch with the procurement lead for the project for help, if required.Thanks for joining us during our part of this #TwitterTakeover during SDP's #MeetTheBuyer2020: Live Virtual Event. Be sure to follow @EastRenCouncil and #EastRen after today for more information. Stay safe and well! pic.twitter.com/hD4GoeQCOO
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
The East Renfrewshire Council team then turned control of the SDP Scotland Twitter account over to South Ayrshire Council for the next hour of the Twitter Takeover.Not reading the question:-) If you are unsure on how to respond, get in touch with the procurement lead for the project via the contact details listed who will be happy to help. Thanks
— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020
Analytics
During one hour, East Renfrewshire Council sent 23 tweets from the SDP Scotland Twitter account as part of the Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event. The tweets earned 4,863 impressions (the number of times users saw a Tweet on Twitter) and 188 engagements (total number of times a user interacted with a Tweet). East Renfrewshire Council's tweets earned one retweet, 41 likes and 10 replies.
Further Information
The 2021 Meet the Buyer event is scheduled to take place on 8 June 2021 at the EICC. For more information, contact the Supplier Development Programme by email at info@sdpscotland.co.uk.
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