Free trial gives SMEs public sector leg-up

Small businesses now have easier access to public sector contracts, through a free trial on a government website.

Until 31 July, new registrants to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)'s Supply2.gov.uk website will have free access to public-sector contracts valued at less than £100,000.

The trial is part of government efforts to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to bid for more public-sector contracts. It comes after the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) pointed out that the website had had a limited impact for small businesses.

Speaking to More Than Business News in March, an FSB spokesperson explained that there needed to be "a big attitude switch in local government and public sector organisations".

Announcing the free trial, Business Minister Shriti Vadera said: "Small- and medium-sized businesses need our support to expand. Many smaller businesses are more innovative, have lower costs and present better value for taxpayers than larger firms.

"Introducing Britain's small firms to government procurement contracts online will provide opportunities to grow that they would not have otherwise found."

FSB national chairman John Wright added: "We hope that this free trial period will encourage more small businesses to try their hand at delivering goods and services to the public sector.

"But local authorities and government departments must play their part too by making sure that more small business opportunities are advertised on Supply2."