The biggest reform to UK public procurement in a generation is now live and embedded. Here is what small and medium-sized enterprises need to know, and how to make the most of it. The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025, replacing the patchwork of EU-derived regulations that had governed public sector […]
What the Procurement Act Means for SMEs Read More »
The Government’s announcement of seven new towns is the most ambitious building programme in over fifty years. For small and medium-sized businesses across the UK, it is not simply a housing story. It is a multi-decade commercial opportunity on a scale that most SMEs have never encountered. The question is whether you are positioned to
Britain Is Building Again. This Time, Small Businesses Should Be First in the Queue. Read More »
What is a mini-competition in procurement? Buyers and suppliers still say “mini-competition”, but since 24 February 2025 the legal term is a competitive selection process. Section 45(3) of the Procurement Act 2023 says a framework may only provide for the future award of a public contract following a competitive selection process, unless the framework has
The mini-competition Read More »
In the world of tendering it sometimes feels like you need to bid for everything somewhat relevant to your business, especially if you are an SME looking to grow and meet new targets. In the world of business we often get into a mindset that if you don’t bid then you’re not working hard enough
How to decide what tenders to bid for Read More »
Social value has been part of public sector tendering since the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 came into force on 31 January 2013. The Act does not place a duty on bidders. It requires the contracting authority, before it starts a procurement, to consider how what it is buying might improve the economic, social
How to Write the Perfect Social Value Response in a Bid Read More »
For a small business, it can feel intimidating or overwhelming trying to find success in the competitive world of government body tenders. It is no secret that lots of businesses similar to yours will want to win the same tenders as you and this is a big concern for many small businesses who feel like
How to Win Government Tenders as an SME with 6 Top Tips Read More »
For many businesses, the process of tendering is something they do out of necessity to win contracts and deliver goods or services for public sector organisations. It is a very valuable industry, and because of this the process of winning a tender and bidding for one is rigorous and this can be off-putting to many
Everything You Need to Know about Risk Assessments in Bids Read More »
In the world of tendering there are lots of different types of tenders that are available to different businesses. The most common three are open tenders, selective tenders, and negotiated tenders. Two of the less common types of tender are serial tenders and framework tenders. Serial tendering centres around preparing tenders based on a typical
The Less Common Types of Tender You Should Know Read More »
In Scotland, the public sector spends approximately £11 billion in purchasing goods and services, a vast majority of this is through tenders. This means that for businesses looking for lucrative opportunities to tender, looking beyond Hadrian’s Wall may be a wise move as the opportunities are plentiful. Scotland’s public sector is overwhelmingly made up of
Everything You Need to Know about Tendering in Scotland Read More »
Over the past 18 months globally we have come to find a new appreciation for just how important our health services are, with the pandemic making everyone a little more appreciative of what bodies like the NHS do for us as a country. The NHS is a massive organisation that is one of the largest
What Kind of Tenders can you Expect to Win in the Health Sector? Read More »