Advice for Scottish businesses on how to secure lucrative contracts

A new guide offering smaller and medium sized enterprises advice on how to bid for public sector catering contracts has been launched. You can download it  here. 

The 30-page guide has been produced by the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) and Scotland Food & Drink on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Speaking at today's official launch at Perth Grammar School, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"This Guide provides practical guidance to businesses interested in getting a foothold in selling quality food and drink to the public sector. It will help dispel any notion that these contracts are off limits or too complex for smaller sized food producers and manufacturing businesses.

"The public purse always looks for value for money but we recognise that price is not the only factor. Food is not just a commodity. It affects our health and our environment. That is why the Scottish Government firmly supports sustainable public procurement.

"The Guide contains a wealth of information which I hope will see many more SMEs competing and winning contracts to deliver healthful, sustainably produced food and drink in schools, hospitals and across the public sector."

Alan Stevenson, Supply Chain Development Director at SAOS, said:

"The Guide was developed using the real experiences of those involved in public procurement throughout Scotland, which has helped provide an invaluable insight into the tendering process and procedures on a practical level. Most importantly, companies need to know how such markets operate, what the requirements are, and how to adopt a professional approach giving them the best chance to win new business. The Guide, along with a helpline, advisory support and learning workshops will help them to do this."

One of the excellent examples of this approach is the relationship built up between StirFresh Lt d and Tayside Contracts. StirFresh was originally a farming –based business and is now a key supplier of prepared fruit and vegetable produce. Andrew Stirling, owner and director of StirFresh, said:

"Our family farming business has worked with the public sector for a number of years, supplying fresh produce grown on the farm to schools and hospitals. We have shown a willingness to change and grow and would encourage others to do the same and are fully supportive of the drive to get more fresh and healthy produce into Scotland's public sector. "

Background

Scotland's first National Food and Drink Policy, 'Recipe for Success', includes a commitment to introduce an action plan to support SMEs in supplying healthy, sustainable food to the public sector. The action plan will also help the public sector procure healthy, sustainable food. For small and medium sized businesses who are interested there are a number of clear benefits to be gained, including:

It offers dependable business - year round for prisons and hospitals and around 40 weeks per year for school and colleges, with demand that is unlikely to be affected markedly by economic downturnsPayment within 30 days of receipt of invoicePublic Sector buyers who are keen to increase opportunities for small and medium sized businessesA new focus on sustainable procurement which is likely to increase opportunities for smaller suppliers

A new guide has been developed by Scotland Food and Drink and SAOS supported by the Scottish Government to make small businesses aware of the opportunities in the public sector in Scotland. The Guide to Supplying the Public Sector, as well as information on other sources of support, can be obtained by calling the Scotland Food & Drink Information Service on 0845 601 3752 or email Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spambots. Es necesario activar Javascript para visualizarla . Alternatively, this can be found at www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org. Most local authority and hospital procurement offices will also have this available.

The Government has also established a free-to-use, on-line Public Contracts Scotland Portal to enable all of the Scottish Public Sector to advertise their opportunities in a single place. Major contracts and many smaller opportunities are advertised on the portal. It is the prime site to search for Scottish Public Sector tendering opportunities. The portal gives free access to contract opportunities. It is recommended that suppliers register and sign up for free email alerts for opportunities with Scottish Public Sector organisations. It can be accessed at: www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk

The Scottish Government's new Catering Framework Agreement promotes the use of fresh seasonal produce with an emphasis on environmental sustainability and nutritional standards. The Scottish Government has also introduced six simple steps to support small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), including suppliers and producers tendering to the public sector.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Food-Industry

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/24144522/0

Contact

Danny Chalmers, 0131 244 5181/07767 412061