Conference Workshop 3b

Wednesday 23 January 2013 11.00

3B Engaging SMEs – the best things come in small packages!

Francis Maude has set out quite clearly that SMEs are the backbone of our economy: the job-creators and innovation feeders that lead to growth.  It is also widely acknowledged that while the public sector spends £230 billion pa on goods and services, only a tiny proportion is being awarded to SMEs. Government seems stuck on the mindset that ‘big is beautiful’.  Of course, we all know ‘the best things come in small packages’.

This session will seek to highlight:-

·         procurement best practice for engaging SMEs (including real life examples of what success looks like)

·         the check list of compliance

·         the process of understanding your true business needs

·         a review of the need for thought changes and thought leaders to really start to align requirement with output

·         some key barriers SMEs may flag during procurement exercises and how to manage/mitigate

·         risk:benefit analysis of working with SMEs

·         potential contract management issues for newly appointed SMEs in your organisation.

Speaker

Karen Thody

Director, Cameron Consulting

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