Winning The Contract

The public sector spends millions of pounds with small businesses every year. Are you winning your share?

The public sector represents a huge opportunity for small businesses. Improving public services is one of the government's top priorities so small businesses can profit by providing quality, cost effective products and services.

But my business is not big enough to compete...

The complexity of public sector processes puts off many small businesses from bidding, but with hundreds of contracts available from national, regional and local public sector organisations e.g. Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts, small businesses like yours can often be perfectly placed to deliver. The local knowledge and understanding and committed local workforce you bring can make a real difference.

The public sector is opening up the procurement market and broadening its supplier base to ensure they get value for money, so why not take action, and learn to profit from a market that continues to grow each year?

So how do I take the first step?

To demonstrate their commitment to simplifying the contract process for small businesses, the DTI's Small Business Service has teamed up with learndirect Business to deliver a new online course.

It gives practical advice to help your business find out about public sector opportunities and provides a step-by-step guide to the bidding process, and it costs just £49.99 (ex. VAT).

Modules covered

• The Public Sector
• Challenges and Barriers
• Types of Contract
• Finding Opportunities
• Tender Responses

The course is online, so it's easy to access and you can work through it at a time, place and pace to suit you and your business.

Other learndirect Business courses which can help you win business:

Health & Safety
Computers & Software
Selling, Pitching & Presenting

What will I get from this course?

Having completed this course you will be able to:

• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of dealing with public bodies.
• Understand how different types of contract are defined, advertised and dealt with
• Understand approved supplier lists and framework agreements
• Search for and find public sector opportunities
• Idenfity the key stages in the tendering process

Tell me more about this course