Partnership for Procurement – Supplying to the Public Sector

A Partnership for Procurement event was held in Inverness today (Tuesday 6 March) to raise awareness and the capability of the third sector to successfully bid, supply and deliver services for the public sector.

Partnership for Procurement (P4P) is a new initiative funded through the Scottish Government’s 10 Year Social Enterprise Strategy; supporting social enterprises and third sector organisations to better access public contracts and build partnerships.

The event, held at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, was delivered jointly with The Highland Council and Commercial and Procurement Shared Services.

Chair of the Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Allan Henderson welcomed delegates and gave the opening address.

He said: “The Council has always been committed in supporting initiatives aimed at maximising opportunities for the inclusive participation of the local Third Sector and SMEs across the Highlands.

“Increasingly it will be essential for us all to adopt a partnership approach to public procurement. We have started this as a Council through the new procurement service we have established alongside Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

“The aims of the P4P scheme mirror that ambition, providing support and advice to organisations so they can better access and respond to public contract opportunities, but also to build partnerships and to consider the potential of working alongside others as members of consortia.”

He added: “One of the key opportunities for third sector organisations from events like this is to highlight the potential for them to move from a dependency upon grants for their long term survival, to seeing an opportunity to deliver goods and services at a price that ensures their long term sustainability.”

A series of online tools and resources as well as further information on the work of P4P is available by visiting www.p4p.org.uk