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Meet the Buyer 2020 Round-up: Fife Council

On 2 June, the Supplier Development Programme (SDP) organised virtual activities to mark the occasion of what would have been the 12^th 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 Fife Council's Twitter Takeover of the SDP Twitter account as part of Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event activities.

Fife Council used the time on the SDP Twitter account to discuss the topic, “Fife Means Business: How to Engage with Fife Council and Explore Community Benefits.” Dot Smith, Economic Adviser and SDP Rep for Fife Council, was joined by Derek Hamilton, Category Manager.

Opening Tweets

Good Morning, I am Dot Smith of @FifeCouncil Economic Development and I am joined by Derek Hamilton from Procurement for the next hour! We look forward to giving some information to help you bid better in Fife! #MeetTheBuyer2020 pic.twitter.com/E8yK5vBXBE

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

.@FifeCouncil is committed to providing support to the local business community in the tendering process, supporting the economic growth for the area. That's why we are members of @sdpscotland: https://t.co/SJ8oLaSvbm. #PowerOfSDP #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

.@FifeCouncil & @sdpscotland provide support to businesses by raising awareness of opportunities in the public sector, increasing suppliers' readiness to tender, and assisting them in accessing tender opps: https://t.co/SxxTjAMOEI #PowerOfSDP #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness pic.twitter.com/XJE1Cow6cw

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Within its introductory tweets, Fife Council received the first reply with a question regarding a PIN's timeline for an Invitation to Tender (ITT).

.@FifeCouncil's Procurement Service is committed to making Fife the best place to do business. To help achieve this we are happy to provide info on our procurement processes to help you to tender for Council business: https://t.co/SxxTjAMOEI #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Thanks for our first question. There are no dates at the moment. This would fall into Corporate FM Category within Fife Council. Email Derek.Hamilton@fife.gov.uk who will direct you to the appropriate contact #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Fife Council's Supplier Guide

Fife Council then turned to promoting its supplier guide, which provides handy information on tendering processes for new and current suppliers to the local authority.

You can view @FifeCouncil's Supplier Guide which provides information for suppliers and potential suppliers to Fife Council about tendering processes on @FifeEconPship's website: https://t.co/omGaj321TW #PowerOfSDP #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness pic.twitter.com/BbaY8yKuYq

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Call for Questions

Fife Council asked for questions, and a supplier responded!

Now that we've given a wee introduction, we can answer some questions! Be sure to use the #MeetTheBuyer2020 hashtag for your tweets about how #FifeMeansBusiness. Just reply to these tweets, or tweet your questions to @sdpscotland. We will try to answer as many as we can!

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Fife Council are currently in discussions with regards recovery plans therefore any opportunities will be promoted through Public Contract Scotland #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

A second supplier also posted a question to Fife Council.

Great question, thanks! We would suggest contacting the Category Manager for all things ICT in @FifeCouncil - Lee.Parry@fife.gov.uk. We hope this is of assistance! #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Promotion of the Supplier Development Programme

A free SDP webinar on Frameworks & Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) was promoted by Fife Council during its hour-long participation in the Twitter Takeover of the SDP account, which ran concurrently.

A reminder that @SDPScotland will start a free webinar on Frameworks & Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) in 15 minutes, and it's not too late to register: https://t.co/35hAXyZE3h #GoodForBusiness #MeetTheBuyer2020 pic.twitter.com/G0F5iAELMA

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Fife Council's Contracts Register

The team from Fife Council promoted where to find its Contracts Register, which suppliers can utilise to forward plan upcoming tenders.

Thanks for your questions so far with @FifeCouncil's #TwitterTakeover during the #MeetTheBuyer2020 Live Virtual Event. We'd like to turn to the Contract Register and where it is on the Fife website now. #FifeMeansBusiness

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

You can review @FifeCouncil's Contracts Register to determine when future opportunities will be available to work in Fife: https://t.co/qcuO1fYaEl #PowerOfSDP #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness pic.twitter.com/o1rV1e9qrl

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Another question was posted by a supplier, in response. Colleagues asked the supplier to get in touch directly, to specifically discuss the query, just like normal practice at a face-to-face Meet the Buyer event.

Thanks for your question. Delighted you are keen to remain engaged in Fife! The Category Manager, Derek.Hamilton@fife.gov.uk will be happy to assist, so please contact directly to allow Derek to provide an update #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

What are your questions about @FifeCouncil's Contract Register? Be sure to use the #MeetTheBuyer2020 hashtag for your tweets about how #FifeMeansBusiness. Just reply to these tweets, or tweet your questions to @sdpscotland. We will try to answer as many as we can - don't be shy!

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Business Support

The team from Fife then tweeted about the business support available to local businesses through Economic Development and Business Gateway.

A bit about economic development and why #FifeMeansBusiness now! There is a wide range of organisations that can offer you support in #Fife, whether you're starting a new business or looking to develop and grow: https://t.co/BGCTmAxVdd #MeetTheBuyer2020 #SupportScottishBusiness

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

.@FifeCouncil's Economic Development plan provides 1-2-1 Procurement Support via our @BGFife Expert Help Programme. Find out more: https://t.co/OY8dmBh8fF #FifeMeansBusiness #SupportScottishBusiness #TenderReady #HelpingYouBidBetter #MeetTheBuyer2020

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Dot Smith from Fife Council is well known to love a hashtag, and her enthusiasm shone through in the next tweet during the Twitter Takeover.

You may have noticed that I love a hashtag! Just use the #MeetTheBuyer2020 hashtag for your tweets about how #FifeMeansBusiness. Reply to our previous tweets, or tweet your questions to @sdpscotland. We love questions!

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Community Benefits

Fife Council turned to the extremely important part of overall value within tenders for larger projects: Community Benefits.

.@FifeCouncil Community Benefits Guide provides info for suppliers on Community Benefit clauses within contracts that require tenderers to commit to undertaking some form of social impact as part of winning a contract: https://t.co/BGXuWgXEe9 #FifeMeansBusiness #MeetTheBuyer2020 pic.twitter.com/qPC4qRd3MM

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

An example highlighted by the team included the creation of "Pallets by Design" as a joint initiative between Fife Council and Light and Energy Distribution Limited, which gifted pallets to eight secondary schools located throughout Fife, who in turn challenged second year pupils to design and create an item made primarily from those pallets.

Example: when a new lighting contract for @FifeCouncil meant delivery was made on wooden pallets, the Procurement Team engaged with Economic Development on an innovative solution to avoid the pallets going to landfill: https://t.co/1RTRS4aYkL #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusiness pic.twitter.com/CbwgMxTR1S

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

The team also highlighted a few other examples of community benefits that have been delivered as part of contracts with the local authority, which contributed to the overall value suppliers promised to deliver as part of their tenders.

A final example of community benefits delivered in #Fife was the improvement works on the Cowdenbeath Town House that were recently carried out as part of the Cowdenbeath High Street Project. #GoodforPlaces #FifeMeansBusiness #MeetTheBuyer2020 pic.twitter.com/Qaz3KAbrKi

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

A bit of chat between me and Derek behind the scenes on how much we love enquiries about how #FifeMeansBusiness during face-to-face Meet the Buyer events with @sdpscotland, and that's one reason we wanted to participate in today's #MeetTheBuyer2020 #TwitterTakeover.

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Fife and Tayside

Fife Council works closely with neighbouring local authorities including Angus Council, Dundee City Council and Perth and Kinross Council. Suppliers should be aware of upcoming collaborative tender opportunities, which will be published on Public Contracts Scotland.

.@FifeCouncil is developing a partnership with @PerthandKinross @DundeeCouncil and @AngusCouncil to promote public sector opportunities across #FifeandTayside. Further information is coming soon, so keep an eye out for our collaborative programme of activity! #MeetTheBuyer2020 pic.twitter.com/NPziVIae8n

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Final Tweets

Fife Council asked if there were any final questions before finishing its hour of participation in SDP's Twitter Takeover, as part of the Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event.

Does anyone have any more questions before we wrap up at 11am? You got it: use the #MeetTheBuyer2020 hashtag for tweets about how #FifeMeansBusiness. Reply to our previous tweets, or tweet your questions to @sdpscotland.

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Working in partnership with the Supplier Development Programme, Fife Council will host the first ever SDP Bidding Masterclass. This full-day workshop covers the key areas suppliers need to be familiar with for successful tendering for public sector and supply chain opportunities. The sessions during the day will focus heavily on practical techniques, checklists and templates that participants will be able to apply immediately to improve tendering performance in their own organisations. Up-to-date information on current tendering rules and procedures will underpin all sessions. As this training is geared to SME suppliers that are already actively tendering for contracts, participants must have completed one or more Level 1 SDP workshops or webinars as a minimum. It is suitable for SMEs and third sector organisations in all business sectors that are already registered with the Supplier Development Programme. Once more restrictions are lifted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland, this Masterclass will be rescheduled to take place in Fife.

I look forward to hearing more about this event.

— Own Your Step Coaching (@ownyourstep) June 2, 2020

Fife Council made the point that it is open for business after the Twitter Takeover, and Dot and Derek shared their direct contact details for further enquiries.

We are still open for business after our 1 hour slot so please contact us directly if you have any further questions - Economic Development dorothy.smith@fife.gov.uk, Procurement Derek.Hamilton@fife.gov.uk #MeetTheBuyer2020 #FifeMeansBusinesselopment

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Thanks for joining us during our part of this #TwitterTakeover during SDP's #MeetTheBuyer2020: Live Virtual Event. We are Dot Smith and Derek Hamilton and we hope we've helped you to bid better in Fife! Follow @FifeCouncil @FifeEconPship & @InvestinFife. Hope to see you soon! pic.twitter.com/KKeyTMHqTt

— SDP Scotland (@sdpscotland) June 2, 2020

Dot Smith and Derek Hamilton of Fife Council then turned control of the SDP Scotland Twitter account over to the team at East Renfrewshire Council.

Analytics

During one hour, Fife Council opened the Twitter Takeover on the topic, "Fife Means Business: How to Engage with Fife Council and Explore Community Benefits." During one hour, Fife Council sent 31 tweets from the SDP Scotland Twitter account during Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event. The tweets earned 10,664 impressions (the number of times users saw a Tweet on Twitter) and 301 engagements (total number of times a user interacted with a Tweet). Fife Council's tweets earned nine retweets, 58 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.