Firms learn totender for MEA council orders

The second in a series of Vital Business Seminars, hosted by Larne Development Forum and enterprise agency Ledcom, was taken by Sam Faulkner, procurement manager of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

The amalgamation of local authorities in April changed the landscape of local government and brings new challenges and openings for small businesses to provide services and products, he explained.

Chairman of Larne Development Forum, Ald Maureen Morrow, said: “The public procurement market alone in Northern Ireland is worth £2.6 billion annually, with more than half of the available contracts now being picked up by businesses with fewer than 50 employees.”

She added: “As the streamlining of the public sector tendering process continues to develop to achieve greater value for money in the delivery of public services, there will be new opportunities for SMEs with the realignment of public procurement guidelines through CPD.”

At MEA council, procurement is managed and overseen by a specialist department, with officers authorised to raise purchase orders.

Mr Faulkner urged: “There is tremendous scope for small firms to win work from the council and it is Council’s aim to support small and medium enterprises as much as it can.”

The next seminar on Friday, November 20, in Willowbank Business Park is on the subject: “The power of social media to market your business” with Linzi Conway and Nicholas Dummigan, who both have experience in online marketing and selling.

This is always a very popular subject and local businesses are encouraged to attend

To register your interest please contact June Scullion 028 28 270742 or e mail

[email protected]