Events

We'll explore what the most popular social channels are within the public sector versus the channels businesses are most comfortable using. We'll take a look at some good examples of using social platforms and some top tips on what to do versus what not to do!

We'll explore what good engagement could look like, discussing examples of when businesses have really stood apart and some pitfalls to avoid when wanting to promote your organisation to public sector buyers. We'll explore what building your brand means and what buyers look for.

Drawing on feedback from businesses at previous Promoting Your Organisation events, we’ll discuss what support businesses tell us they want and need when trying to showcase their business. We'll highlight also how this can be a very different experience in the public sector from the private sector and give an important insight into how the governance environment can stipulate how public sector buyers look to receive market information both now and under the future regulations.

We often get asked about how to find other businesses to work together with to secure public sector opportunities.

We're putting on this event, dedicated to meeting other businesses who are also exploring collaborative working.

We'll give an overview of the things you might want to consider leading up to becoming ‘contract ready’ in a partnership and we'll explore what the key areas of focus are for businesses wanting to work together to secure work in the public sector.

We’ll explore what the make or break elements are of preparing to work with others.

This highly interactive workshop will be an opportunity for businesses to meet, greet, exchange details and explore how to form new working relationships. Come along and introduce yourself and your business and hopefully you can find new contacts and connections for future work.

“Unlock Opportunities to Win New Work in the Public Sector" - Join Our Free Workshop with Cheshire West and Chester Council on October 9th!

Are you a local business or voluntary sector provider in the Cheshire West and Chester area looking to expand your reach and grow your business?

Don’t miss our upcoming workshop on Wednesday, October 9th, from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm at the Meridian House Hub, Winsford.

This free event is designed to help you navigate the complexities of public sector procurement and understand the new opportunities created by the UK’s Procurement Act 2023. Whether you’re new to bidding or looking to enhance your success rate, this workshop will provide you with practical tips and insights to give you a competitive edge.

What We’ll Cover

• How to Get Involved in Public Sector Bids: Understand the procurement process and discover how to find relevant opportunities.

• Answering Quality Questions: Learn how to craft responses that resonate with evaluators and score high.

• Social Value and Carbon Net Zero: Explore how these important factors are increasingly influencing public sector contracts.

• Upcoming Procurement Regulations: Stay ahead of the curve with an overview of the Procurement Act 2023 and what it means for you.

Why Attend?

The public sector wants to work with local providers and is committed to removing barriers to entry and growth for small to medium enterprises. It’s a stable and valuable market, offering significant opportunities for local businesses and voluntary organisations. This workshop is an opportunity to gain the knowledge and confidence needed to find and secure contracts in the public sector and grow your business and impact”

Being a "Responsible Business", and how you demonstrate it, can be the difference between winning and not winning work in the Public Sector. The drive for more socially and environmentally responsible business practises is on the increase and this is being reflected in public sector competitions.

But being "Responsible" is made up of different elements and providers often tell us that the requests and requirements from public sector can be confusing and complex. Help is required to understand what is being asked for and what providers can consider doing, or how to demonstrate actions already being taken .

This session will give a practical over view of what agenda items such as social value, carbon net zero and sustainability are. We know that lots of smaller providers are already doing lots of really impactful things in line with these agenda so we'll also explore how you can reflect the great work you're already doing in competitions and use those activities to help you secure growth for the future.

Hosted by Go4Growth resident experts in these fields, Sheri-Leigh Miles and Jimmy Brannigan, this workshop is designed to be interactive and take any questions you might have on these important topics.

The Procurement Act 2023 is due to go live on 28th October 2024. This event for both buyers and suppliers will look at what we have learned since the Act has been in force.

We'll look if possible at the Competitive Flexible Procedure and how it's being used, how dynamic markets are operating and whether Frameworks are being let under the new constructs as well as how the Central Digital Platform is working and if the new notice regime is helping to create more transparency and accessibility to public sector buyers.

We'll also be asking SMEs to feedback about whether their experience has changed at all. This is the first of 5 events we'll hold quarterley starting December 2024 and throughout 2025 to keep updating on how the Procurement Act 2023 is embedding in day to day puiblic procurement life.

At this event we'll take a look at three specific tools within the Procurement Act 2023 and go into more detail on how they work and how suppliers access them.

We'll focus on Open Frameworks - Under the Act, Frameworks (with more than one supplier) can be run for 8 years, providing it is re-opened at certain points. We'll talk through how it will work and how a Framework with only one supplier may differ. We'll chat through what to expect when they do re-open.

We'll look at Dynamic Markets and how they differ from Dynamic Purchasing Systems and discuss when they are mainly utilised and how they work.

Finally we'll look at Competitive Flexible Procedure, using some case studies if possible to discuss how they can work and how they are being utilised by contracting authorities since the Act became live in October 2024.

We're delighted to be joined by Anneliese Forthergill of YPO who will help us better understand how these tools are being used and how suppliers, especially smaller organisations, can prepare to take part in bids and tenders under the new regulations.