CHAMBERLINK BUSINESS SUPPORT POINTING YOUR COMPANY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR SUCCESS


GREATER BIRMINGHAM CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE delivers a number of programmes designed to help businesses realise their growth aspirations. It can also help identify other schemes that may be applicable to your particular industry.


CONTACT: Sandra Cunningham T: 0121 607 1874


Winning business with local authorities


T


he Chamber has held a special event to help firms interested in bidding for work from local authorities.


The event was held by public sector contract


specialist Thornton & Lowe, the Chamber’s tender alert partner, which is hoping to spread the word about how to succeed in winning local authority contracts. The firm has been helping businesses win


contracts with the public sector since 2009, and Dave Thornton highlighted the many pitfalls involved in the tendering process. He said: “The process is often deemed


complex and time consuming – this is because public sector buyers/ procurement teams need to ensure they are fully compliant and are spending public money in a way that is fair, open and transparent, and achieving value for money. “So this means checking policies and systems


are in place, and that an organisation has appropriate qualifications, accreditations and


insurances. And then, how competitive is their offer and solution? This all has to be evaluated through the written process, with the addition of the presentation and interviews that are sometimes used to clarify specific points.”


‘A business will often fail to assess what is required to win the contract’


Dave said that common mistakes were made by those tendering for local authority contracts, one of which was that a business will often fail to assess what is required to win the contract. He said: “Are they the most suitable supplier,


contractor, consultant? In order to know this, you need to be thinking about their competition and the requirement of the buyer. Any business has the right to bid for any public sector contract – but this does not mean they will win it.


“And considering the time and effort they take


to complete, it is worth assessing your likely chances of success and how you can best compete as early as possible? “If you are a training company which largely


works with retailers to provide first aid training, for example, you may be deemed more of a risk than a competitor which works with hundreds of public sector bodies already. This does not mean you can't compete but it does mean if you don't have something else to offer which can outweigh this – it might really impact your chances.”


Time to ‘start and grow’


Would-be entrepreneurs are being asked to ‘Start & Grow’ with Business Venture, the business support department of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. “By encouraging a new generation of start-ups we will ultimately


help to create jobs within the region,” said Anabela Ferreira, who manages a team of business advisers, job coaches and administration staff at Business Venture, which has helped 200 people into employment during the past year. Under ‘Start & Grow’, a Regional Growth Fund programme that


Lara (centre) with Mandy Canny (left) and Emma Kasprowicz of Office Angels Angel Lara flying high


Chamber business development manager Lara Day is growing wings after being named ‘Angel of the Month’. The award has been made by recruitment firm Office Angels, which


makes the award on a monthly basis to reward skills and loyalty. Chamber membership director Mandy Canny, said: “Lara is extremely


professional and a positive member of the team, she consistently works towards achieving her individual sales target on a monthly basis. “She has an engaging personality and it has been an absolute pleasure working with her.”


follows on from a previous successful ‘Ready for Business’ project, newcomers will be provided with expert advice on how to establish a business – and will then be guided through the next three years with the aim of creating a sustainable enterprise able to make a long-term contribution to the economy. Ms Ferreira added: “Age is no barrier to joining the programme –


and neither is the type of start-up that is proposed, just as long as it is legal! “But we ask that people be dedicated in their approach in order


that we can provide a package of support that is tailored individually for each applicant.”


For further information, call Business Venture on 0121 450 4235 or email: venture@birmingham-chamber.com


JULY/AUGUST 2015 CHAMBERLINK5


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