Small firms urged to visit government contract site

SMALL firms across Yorkshire are being urged to sign up to the government’s Supply2.gov.uk website and to take advantage of the thousands of government contracts available.

More than 123,000 companies have already signed up to the website, which provides an up to the minute database of government contracts for small businesses wishing to supply to the public sector.

Suppliers who have signed up to the site receive advice on how best to access government contracts and a free daily email alert notifying them of new opportunities that are relevant to their business.

Minister for Yorkshire & the Humber, Rosie Winterton said: “Every year the government spends many billions of pounds on public sector contracts. It is vital that we actively help small and medium sized companies take advantage of these business opportunities.

“In the current economic climate one of my key priorities is making sure that our regional businesses get all the help they need and that public agencies are working together effectively to help them. The Supply2.gov.uk website is a crucial tool for this.

Chris Acton, director of Malton-based Acton Shapiro, Health and Social Care Consultancy, said that his firm checked the site every day.

“It gives us prompt and quick access to the many lower-value business opportunities within the public sector,” he added.

“We have submitted and been successful with a number of bids through this site and find the easy notification of all the current tenders really useful. We also find updating our profile to be very straightforward.”