Small businesses can't win public contracts on their own

Interiors & Lifestyle Futures has previously reported on how SMEs are squeezed out when trying to win public sector contracts. Much was made last year of the Government’s determination to redress the balance. But, a report earlier this month from the Federation of Small Businesses makes clear that bantam businesses are still making little headway in the fight for a fair share of the public procurement pie.

One key finding chimes perfectly with our mantra about the advantages of like-minded companies collaborating:

“38 per cent believe the public sector should actively use small businesses or encourage consortia of small and medium sized firms where possible.”

Four issues a collaborative partnership can address in a procurement bid:

• turnover requirements
• professional indemnity
• required certifications
• currency of recent experience

Adrian Burns is part of a team supporting  the West Midlands community of interiors & lifestyle companies. Find out more at www.ilfutures.co.uk

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