On 11 September, Made in Britain delivered an online roundtable inviting Shirley Cooper OBE, Small Business Crown Representative, Cabinet Office (pictured, left), on behalf of the UK government, to discuss the new Procurement Act and the commercial opportunities it opens for UK SME manufacturing companies.
The Procurement Act is now scheduled to take effect on 24 February 2025 (it was previously scheduled for a go-live date of 28 October 2024). It represents a major overhaul of the UK’s public procurement framework, designed to streamline processes, enhance transparency, and promote fair competition. Key features of the Act include a focus on value for money, increased competition, and the use of objective criteria in awarding contracts. This reform significantly benefits small businesses by simplifying access to public contracts. It consolidates over 350 different procurement regulations into a single regime, creating a unified rule book.
The session covered:
- An overview of the key changes in the Procurement Act and what they mean for members.
- Insight into the types of public sector contracts that will be more accessible to smaller businesses.
- Practical guidance on how to navigate the new procurement landscape, including registration, bidding, and compliance.
- Recommendations for members to take full advantage of the new procurement opportunities.
Made in Britain recognises the value of businesses talking with their peers and government representatives, and this event facilitated an in-depth understanding of how SMEs can gain better access to – and be more successful in bidding for – public contracts in the UK.
Circa 30 companies registered for the session, to listen, discuss and ask questions.
Shirley Cooper OBE lead the discussion on the overall relationship between the government and small businesses.
The session was hosted and facilitated by George Middleton, Advisor to Made in Britain and Director at MAP UK & International. It took place as part of Made in Britain’s ongoing supply chains support programme. Previous sessions include those with Babcock, Leidos and NHS Supply Chain.
Please email trade@madeinbritain.org to make contact with Made in Britain and Advisor, George Middleton, in relation to growing your company's exports or more details on Made in Britain’s supply chains support programme.
By Made in Britain 2 months ago | Government & Supply Chains