Selling and working with Public Sector: An information session for SMEs/VCSEs

The government is committed to supporting SMEs/VCSEs through procurement and the Cabinet Office is hosting a free webinar to share advice and tips on avoiding common pitfalls.

Policy officials Rebecca Earl and Caroline Brownsell will outline the ways in which SMEs/VCSEs can engage with the government, provide an overview of the Cabinet Office Public Procurement Review Service and answer any questions SMEs/VCSEs may have about the process of working with the public sector.

This is an information webinar aimed at SMEs, VCSEs and other businesses who may be new to or have faced challenges in working with the public sector. They have 100 lines open and there will be the opportunity for a Q&A.

About Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS):

They allow suppliers to anonymously raise concerns they have about public sector buying and prompt payment and it’s free to use. It is one of a range of measures designed to make Government easier to work with, levelling the playing field for those who want to supply to Government. Their work can lead to live procurements being adjusted, outstanding payments made for work completed, with recommendations being made to Contracting Authorities leading to improvements in the way government sources goods and services in the future.

There have been over 1,900 referrals since 2011; they have helped suppliers reclaim over £9.4 million from over 400 late payment cases reported to the service and had a 100% success rate of releasing payments on undisputed invoices.

About Cabinet Office Small Business Team:

They work with government departments and external stakeholders to:

• Capture and continue to improve the quality of central government spend data
• Oversee the development, publication and delivery of SME Action Plans
• Ensure effective performance management and sharing of best practice on SMEs across departments
• Ensure effective stakeholder engagement with SMEs, working with sector bodies, the Small Business Advisory Panel and the Crown Representative for SMEs

They focus on stakeholder engagement to help support start-ups and small businesses via government procurement.