It’s old news that the UK Government set ambitious targets of awarding 33% of all public sector contracts to SMEs by 2020.
That 33% equates to over £21.3 BILLION worth of contracts each year awarded to SMEs in the UK alone. This presents a huge opportunity for aspiring businesses to secure long-term sustainable public sector contracts which can act as a foundation for significant organisational growth.
A lot of companies think they are too niche or too small to tender but this isn’t true. As long as you are established, have a good track record of delivery and a solid set of accounts (typically 2 years worth) you are in a strong position to tender.
Opportunities are hugely varied with services and products of all kinds procured. We have selected a few of the weird and wonderful ones below:
- Supply of an inflatable boat if anyone has one spare
- Supply of Milk and bread anybody
- Supply of over £6m worth of ‘Premium Colouring Pens’
- Conservation of Maritime Paintings
- Weight Management and Personal Training
- Wigs and Associated products- over £9.5m worth! for the NHS.
- An opportunity for communities to bid for funds to purchase their local pub!
More than a Pub is a unique three-year programme established to help support community ownership of pubs in England and grow the range of services they offer to help local people. Its value is £3.85 million and is jointly funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Power to Change
Whatever you are supplying, someone will be buying (if there are not you may need to give your business plan serious consideration e.g. chocolate fireguards are not fit for purpose)
Often the more niche the better as you have less competition in comparison to highly competitive markets such as cleaning, low-value website design, security etc. Working with the public sector can be a great way to build a small business.
This article was first published on Bid Research & Development.
