While many in the private sector are tightening their belts, public sector organisations are less likely to be subject to such fluctuations in the market. Latest figures show that public sector spending is expected to exceed £125 billion this year within the UK alone. With public sector procurement high on the Government's agenda, this market represents a fantastic opportunity for small companies to ensure continued growth through uncertain economic times.

Opportunities suitable for small businesses

As a small business, it is imperative that you have visibility of government contract opportunities; however, simply tracking down available contracts is a challenge in itself. Under EU rules all public sector contracts worth typically £100,000 or more must be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), however, below this threshold, contract notices could appear in a host of places, including websites, trade journals, the national press or local newspapers. To comply with the law, the public sector must advertise lower-value procurements when they put work out to tender, but the extent to which this is required is left to their discretion.

The Supply2.gov.uk contract opportunities portal was created by government in order to centralize the advertisement of contracts below the OJEU threshold, with the objective of providing small businesses access to below threshold public sector contracts nationwide - a lucrative market which can potentially provide small businesses with the stability they need to thrive and grow.

The Chamber of Commerce East Lancashire has recently become an Interoperability Partner with Supply2.gov.uk. Stewart Maloney, Commercial Director of the East Lancashire Chamber comments: "The Supply2.gov.uk service has become an essential tool in the armuory of Chamber Supply Chain, an operating division of the Chamber, in providing businesses both small and large with local and national tender opportunities. Affording our clients these invaluable notifications will help to sustain businesses, create and safeguard jobs and stimulate the local economy."

Launched in June 2006, Supply2.gov.uk is the first major initiative to unite buyers and suppliers together in a single location. Furthermore, the portal is cited as a best practice means of advertising lower-value contract opportunities by HM Treasury and the European Commission. To date, the portal has provided visibility in excess of 99,000 contract opportunities to small businesses throughout the UK. Supply2.gov.uk is free for public sector buyers and free for small businesses to register for contract information in a location of their choice.

Supply2.gov.uk has provided the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) with a better snapshot of the marketplace, allowing the organisation to drive efficiency and value for money through ensuring better competition for their requirements.

Noel Miller, Procurement Officer for DCMS comments: "I cannot overstate the value of the Supply2.gov.uk service. It is a simple, yet powerful portal which allows the DCMS to advertise and gain access to a diverse range of suppliers, specifically the SME market, the DCMS actively encourages all of its non departmental public bodies to use this portal and would recommend that you do also ".

There are many benefits to registering on the Supply2.gov.uk portal. Namely;The Supply2.gov.uk contract alert portal provides small businesses with free access to lower-value public sector business opportunities in a local location of their choice, to encourage their involvement in selling to government.

For small businesses the Supply2.gov.uk portal will provide visibility of new government contract opportunities, relevant to their business via the Daily Email Alert service.

The portal also provides a platform, which small businesses can access, to promote their company to the public sector market. This database is searchable only by government buyers who are able to identify suppliers based on the products and services they require.

Furthermore, additional features of the portal include an Online Contract Search and a Resource section which provides 24/7 access to information - assisting small businesses when they are tendering for contracts.
Estelle Morris, Director of Samui Design based in Oxfordshire is one of the thousands of suppliers throughout the UK benefiting from the Supply2.gov.uk service.

Estelle comments: "We are delighted with the service that Supply2.gov.uk offers. At last we have access to small contract advice put out by government bodies that we actually have a chance of winning. As a small company, it is very difficult for us to compete for contracts larger than £150,000 published in the OJEU when our turnover is less than £100,000. This way we can access small contracts and choose the ones that we feel we may have a chance to win and it is free in our local area."

Similarly, Dominic Mellor of SRC Ltd in Stockport states: "Supply2.gov.uk gives us quick access to contract opportunities that would otherwise be missed. The service is extremely valuable for helping us grow our business."
Approximately 3000 new opportunities are advertised through Supply2.gov.uk every month. The portal aims to open up the lower-value public sector opportunities market to as wide a range of businesses as possible.

Register at www.supply2.gov.uk [1] to be notified of new government opportunities in a location of your choice for free.