Write a commentA recent report by business development body InterTradeIreland has shown that the all-island public procurement market is still worth approximately £15billion with scope for new entrants – particularly on a cross-border basis.
Despite the continued effects of the recession, the all-island public procurement market is a major business opportunity for local SMEs according to Margaret Hearty, Director of Programmes and Business services.
“The all-island procurement market offers much needed opportunities to business in an economic environment which has become increasingly volatile and hard to predict,” she said.
There is a commitment from Government in both jurisdictions to make the public procurement market more accessible to SME’s. The two main barriers to entry in this market are capability in terms of completing a tender effectively and awareness in terms of how to access the market.
Go-2-Tender workshops offer companies expert advice on how best to do just that.”
Go-2-Tender is an InterTradeIreland programme which gives SMES the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to tender successfully for public sector contracts particularly on a cross-border basis. To date the programme has helped 510 companies North and South secure contracts valued at £41million.
InterTradeIreland is delighted to be working with the Newry and Dundalk Chamber of Commerce to bring Go-2-Tender to local companies who are trying to remain competitive in a challenging market place.
The Go-2-Tender workshop is taking place on the 30 November and 07 December 2010 at the Crowne Plaza, Dundalk.
Orla Jackson, Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade stated, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with InterTradeIreland and Dundalk Chamber of Commerce to deliver this initiative. Projects such as this have an important role to play in growing the local economy, as they assist companies to gain the confidence and skills to successfully tender for goods and services throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland.”
For more information about the workshops contact Jenny Williamson at InterTradeIreland on 028 30834173 (048 from Ireland).
