News

Guidance on Public Procurement for SMEs and Third Sector Suppliers launched on World SME Day.

The Supplier Development Programme was delighted to contribute to the new Scottish Government guidance, to support SMEs engaging with the public sector to find opportunities and bid successfully, released on World SME Day, 27 June 2023.

As set out in the recently published Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland, the Scottish Government and wider public sector has a long-standing commitment to SME engagement, which is embedded in Scottish procurement legislation and sustainable approaches.

In collaboration with the Supplier Development Programme and other members of the Procurement Supply Group, the Scottish Government has developed and released new guidance on Public Procurement for SMEs and Third Sector Suppliers on World SME Day.

In the latest Public Procurement and Property blog, Nikki Archer, Head of Procurement and Commercial Policy & Strategy in Scottish Government, said “It was really helpful to get the views of SMEs at the BiPC event, particularly micro, third sector and minority owned, on barriers to engagement. I’m really hopeful that this one-stop-shop guidance, which also includes frequently asked questions and useful links, will help organisations to engage with public procurement.”

Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance, said “This new guidance shows the importance of listening to SMEs to inform progressive procurement approaches. Sustainable procurement and driving local spend is a key pillar of Community Wealth Building and we are determined to make it easier for SMEs to engage effectively to enable local economic impact.”

Gillian Cameron, Programme Manager for the Supplier Development Programme, said “participating on the panel at the BIPC event, highlighted the need to keep SMEs and Social Enterprises in Scotland up-to-date with the support available when bidding for contracts. We are delighted to have contributed to this helpful guide to further support those interested in bidding for public sector contracts in Scotland and highlight our free training and e-learning."

The blog also highlights Meet the Buyer North, on 12 September 2023, and Meet the Buyer South, 3 October 2023, as opportunities for businesses to engage buyers from public sector bodies across Scotland.

The new guidance is available view on the Supplier Journey website.

Further support is available to Scottish-based SMEs

The Supplier Development Programme offers a range of free support in all aspects of tendering, including training and resources, to SMEs based in Scotland, to help your business become "tender ready". Check out our events calendar to be the first to know about our upcoming events and training.

Alternatively, Scottish SMEs can access SDP's eLearning library, to access free training courses on demand, at a place and time convenient to you.

In celebration of world SME day, the Supplier Development Programme is thrilled to launch the "Top Tips For Tendering" campaign. SDP will be posting tips and advice on all aspects of tendering every Tuesday, supporting Scottish SMEs in their journey to becoming "tender ready".

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