Supply2.gov.uk is part of the Government's strategy for supporting economic growth – particularly among smaller companies – across the UK, and helps to reduce some of the barriers faced by small businesses seeking to access public sector contract opportunities.

Supply2.gov.uk allows businesses to view lower-value contracts (typically with a value of under £100,000) advertised by UK public sector organisations in a single location. Suppliers can view contracts in their chosen area free of charge, and the service is also free for the public sector to use.

Stephen Timms, Minister for Competitiveness at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), has welcomed the news that the Supply2.gov.uk service is proving to be a valuable business tool to Scottish businesses – particularly those in the growth areas of the West of Scotland.

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The Minister said: "Ensuring all businesses have straightforward access to public sector procurement opportunities is very important.

"Supply2.gov.uk achieves this and benefits both suppliers and buyers. Companies get the chance to tender for solid contracts and government gets access to a diverse and creative range of suppliers."

The public sector can be a valuable and reliable customer, and has requirements for virtually every product and service imaginable. Since the Supply2.gov.uk portal was launched in June 2006, more than 60,000 contract notices have been published, of which around one-third have had a value of under £100,000 – making them particularly relevant to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

In a recent survey conducted by BERR, more than two fifths of registered suppliers said that Supply2.gov.uk has saved their company time in searching and applying for public sector contracts, with more than half reporting that using Supply2.gov.uk has increased the number of public sector contracts they were likely to bid for. In addition, almost two thirds of suppliers said they recommend the service to others.

With almost 14% of all contract opportunities available based in Scotland, as well as nationwide opportunities, Supply2.gov.uk is the only official government lower-value procurement portal for Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.

A number of Scottish suppliers have discovered the value of becoming a potential supplier to the public sector as a result of registering on www.Supply2.gov.uk.

(JM)