Home > News > January 2010 > 27 January 2010

Free course aims to help smaller firms bid for government contracts

A free online public procurement course designed to help smaller firms bid for the £220 billion of public sector contracts awarded each year was today launched jointly by Small Business Minister Lord Davies and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne.

The course, 'Winning the Contract', was developed with the aim of showing participants how to identify business opportunities to supply goods and services to the public sector, explaining the public procurement process, and demonstrating how to submit tenders. The course contains hints and tips designed to guide and inform businesses on the bidding process, and where to find public sector contract opportunities.

Trade, Investment and Small Business Minister Lord Davies said: "Small and medium-sized businesses already sell their goods and services to the public sector, but many more could do so. Opening up public sector procurement to a wider range of suppliers provides new opportunities for small businesses as the UK economy heads towards growth."

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Bryne, MP said: "Small and medium-sized businesses are the engine-room of our economy. We want them to harness the spending power of government to grow their businesses and create jobs.

"This new free course will help those businesses to compete effectively for government contracts, locking in the recovery and strengthening businesses throughout the country."

Businesses can register to access the 'Winning the Contract' course by clicking through to learndirect on the Business Link website at www.businesslink.gov.uk/procurement.

The course, developed by the government and hosted by learndirect, should take a maximum of 3 to 4 hours to complete and can be taken section by section as time allows.

'Winning the Contract' is part of a series of joint initiatives by the Office of Government Commerce and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills aimed at making the procurement market clearer and simpler.

Training Reference is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites.

Related information

For related news, case studies, articles and research, visit our
e-learning home page

Books for training professionals

• Bookshop home page
• e-Learning books
• Blended learning books

Find e-learning providers

Visit the Training Reference Directory to view supplier details for a wide range of courses, products and services.

Sponsored links

Back to top