In the Forum of Private Business (FPB) monthly economic survey 26% of small firms reported a rise in the market for their goods and services, compared to 23% that experienced a decline. Just over 50% of respondents saw no change.
This is the first time since the panel was launched in November that more business owners have experienced positive rather than negative market conditions.
8% of small business also revealed that access to finance had improved - compared with the previous month's survey where not one respondent reported this.
"In order to capitalise on these positive signs, the government must launch a long-term, strategic plan in the forthcoming Budget; one that helps small businesses survive and grow, and become a catalyst to broader economic prosperity," said Phil Orford, FPB chief executive.
www.ukba.co.uk
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Perversely, recessions can be a very good time to be running a small business. By definition, a small business will have a small market share, leaving it with more potential to win customers from larger, struggling, competitors. the trick on how to do so is knowing who your customers are and what they value about your offer. This, unfortunately is where a lot of small businesses come unstuck but it can be quickly rectified by input from an appropriate advisor.
Hello,
A major problem is not the fact that public sector agencies are preparing to the pathways so that SME's find the process of tendering a lot easier – a recent survey conducted in the London area by Business Junction concluded that most SME’s do not tender for public sector contracts, their perception is that they will be unsuccessful and their time and resources would be better spent on pursuing activities which are less demanding and whose outcome is more within their grasp. (ref: London SME Survey conducted by Business Junction – March-2009)
Other major factors are the level of audit that public sector agencies have to undergo and the frequency of these audits, which SME’s might not be aware of.
Public sector agencies inadvertently award contracts to suppliers who take the time to get into system and find out how it works and (in most cases) provide goods/services/supplies that are of the required standard at the right price and at the right time.
At the same time that public sector agencies are preparing to make the system more attractive (for use of a better word) SME’s also should show a commitment to take part in the system – by finding out ‘how the system of public procurement operates’ it is of no use just to complain about lack of entry while at the same time giving excuses as to why they do not take part.
Among the reasons for the audit is that - it is public money (collected in taxes - from the same SME's that do not take part) - that is being spent, these SME's fail to realise that the UK is part of the EU and that SME's in any part of the EU has the same right to submit a tender in response to an invitation to tender, just the same way as UK SME's.
If public sector agencies spent a lot of their time sorting out unsuitable tenders there would be an outcry on how much time and money is wasted on such a process from these same SME's.
SME's have a duty to find out 'how the system works and what is required to satisfy the requirements of the system', it is not a sustainable position to imagine that the government will somehow wave away EU or their own policy directives just because some SME's say 'I am not interested, it is too difficult and anyway I might not win the contract'.
The other fact is that all SME's need to allocate some time for training and personal and business development, which not only improve their chances of success but also all areas of their business activities – unfortunately training has been traditionally a sore point with most SME’s.
One comment on the failure of the company that failed to get through the PQQ stage.
A PQQ is your entry into the system - it demonstrates to the purchaser that you intend to go the extra mile to satisfy their requirements.
Your PQQ should be representative of all your company's products/goods/services - it should not just reflect the questions that have been asked.
You can form a rule of thumb by the following method - if questions in the PQQ did not specifically say that (xyz should not be included in your response) then you are free to include all relevant information that represents your company goods/products/services in the best possible light.
The PQQ responses demonstrates which company will provide the highest possible (Added Value) to the outcome of the contract project - just answering all the questions correctly - is not enough.
There is a process in all things and success only comes if and when you are fully prepared and competent enough to take part in the process.
Regards
LS
Tendering for Contracts Training
http://www.tfc-training.com
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