Training & Advice
Winning Public Sector Contracts
Register for the Winning Public Sector Contracts project
The next procurement support worshops are on:
19th April, 9.30 - 12.00, South Fens Business Centre
20th April, 9.30 - 12.00, Cambridgeshire Football Association
24th May, 9.30 - 12.00, South Fens Business Centre
25th May, 12.30 - 16.00, Cambridgeshire Football Association
7th June, 9.30 - 12.00, South Fens Business Centre
8th June, 12.30 - 16.00, Cambridgeshire Football Association
For further information please contact Claire at CVL, claire@cvl.org.uk
Aims
Local Councils, NHS and other public sector organisations spend over £500 million each year buying goods, products and services in the GCP area. Furthermore, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a huge commercial opportunity and will have a major impact on the region. It has been estimated that the Games will offer 75,000 individual tendering opportunities and 7,000 contracts. The scope of these projects is far reaching and there are opportunities for small to medium sized enterprise and third sector organisations based in Cambridgeshire, in a wide range of sectors. The Winning Public Sector Contracts project will assist organisations across the area to respond to these kinds of opportunity. The support project runs until 31 March 2011, and has three main aims:
- Developing procurement skills
- Improving perceptions of public sector procurement processes
- Enabling organisations to engage more positively in public sector procurement
Benefits
The support is provided by Community Ventures (Middlesbrough) Ltd (CVL), a specialist community-based consultancy with a demonstrable track record of providing intense procurement support to SMEs, with funds from Cambridgeshire Business. The programme has a strong focus on being accessible to all, and as such the training will cater for both rural and urban based organisations. Benefits include:
- Flexible and free advice in a format that suits your needs
- Improved awareness of relevant procurement opportunities
- Enhanced skills and understanding linked to procurement
- Tailored support to develop the capacity and resources you need
- Improved confidence to secure contracts
- Development of business planning skills and operational systems
- Ability to work toward greater financial security and independence
- Advice on how to successfully deliver contracts once secured
Support Available
The types of support available vary depending on the needs and experience of the organisation, and include:
- 1:1 Intensive Support
- Advice and Signposting
- Workshops
- Meet the Buyer Events
- Ideas Exchange Surgery
- Telephone and Online Advice Service
The free Workshops are a series of four half-day sessions, held at South Fens Business Centre and Cambridgeshire Football Association. Download the workshop leaflet.
Register and Contact
Register for the Winning Public Sector Contracts project
Summary of Services
The support project programme includes a number of different types of support, which organisations may pick and choose from to best meet their own individual needs. The training acknowledges that every organisation is different, and the approach focuses on the individual organisation to help secure contracts that are right for that organisation.
Specific training available includes:
- 1:1 Intensive Support
On-site support delivered in a way that is practical, interactive and appropriate to the recipient’s individual needs. Support could include assistance to complete PQQs and tender documents, provision of essential policies and procedures, advice on consortia/supply chains, or guidance around contract management. Support also includes the “Cambridgeshire SME Seller’s Guide to Procurement” and the “Jargon-Buster”. - Advice and Signposting
Access to other business support products on offer to complement and enhance organisation’s longer-term forward strategies. This includes links and introductions to public sector and London 2012 commissioners and procurers, as well as with regional procurement initiatives aimed at building local capacity. - Workshops
A programme of group sessions, workshops and other events to raise organisation’s competencies in engaging in the tendering process. This also includes a specific programme of four procurement workshop sessions. - Meet the Buyer Events
Facilitated small group and individual opportunities to meet public sector and London 2012 buyers matched directly to the needs of local organisations. Also opportunity to raise Q&A with an expert panel of commissioners and wider stakeholders. - Ideas Exchange Surgery
Regular Surgeries aimed at tackling the most topical procurement related issues in a structured group setting. This includes expert advice and guidance as well as opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. - Telephone and Online Advice Service
A telephone and online advice service provided until 31st March 2012 ensuring organisations are able to access expert support throughout, and for 12 months following, the programme. This will also include signposting organisations to further contacts and other procurement initiatives where appropriate.
