Businesses across Waverley and the Guildford area have benefited from vital know-how and expertise to help them access hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of contracts from local councils and the public sector.
Waverley and Guildford councils delivered free training to local businesses in a joint effort to help them tender for council contracts, putting home grown businesses in the best possible position to compete in a tough market.
Councillor Liz Townsend, Waverley Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, said:
“As major local service providers and employers, both Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils invite tenders for thousands of pounds worth of work every month looking for excellent value for money for our taxpayers and high-quality services. We know that there are lots of local businesses who can meet our needs but putting together a winning tender is a skill in itself, which not everyone has - but anyone can learn. We want businesses to be fully equipped to bid for our contracts so it was excellent to see such enthusiastic participation at both our beginners and intermediate courses.”
The councils invited a specialist bid and tender writing consultancy, Executive Compass, to provide the training which covered every aspect of submitting a tender, from an overview of the public sector tendering process and identifying bidding opportunities, to understanding tender questions and compiling persuasive evidence as well as writing well-structured responses that comply with local government rules.
Executive Compass provided two tailored courses, each delivered over two days, for businesses with little or no experience of council tenders and for those who already had some experience of the process.
Martin Philp from Clutch Space attended the training and said: "After the training, we're in a much better position to bid for public sector contracts. I've got a clear understanding of what is needed for a winning bid and to find the opportunities that best fit Clutch Space."
By supporting local businesses to bid for contracts Waverley and Guildford councils hope to keep more taxpayers’ money in the local economy by benefiting businesses which employ local staff.
You can find Information on how to provide services to both councils by visiting Waverley Borough Council and Guildford Borough Council website pages.