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Our Changing Environment
Gillian Askew • Apr 04, 2020
Our Changing Environment - Published on Linked In 04/04/20
During the current coronavirus crisis, everything I’m thinking about at the moment is revolving around helping small businesses in the public sector as well as the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
Good news amongst the gloom
Small businesses will potentially find navigating the world of COVID-19 much harder than big businesses (dependant on what they do and how they do it, of course), but the good news is I’ve noticed that the number of bids being launched by the public sector on a daily basis doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down.
With this in mind, I’ve been specifically looking at the following over the last couple of weeks:
Getting to grips with the world of bid writing
The Federation of Small Businesses Special Interest Group (FSB SIG) has made a start in building a tender readiness learning environment for small businesses. We’ve broken the learning environment down into five key areas:
1. Basic bid credibility – all the core elements any business will need in order to be able to bid into the public sector. Things like policies, insurances, process etc. Sadly not very sexy, but very necessary
2. Finding opportunities – Knowing about the relevant portals and tendering advertisements going live that you can get involved in
3. The bid/no bid decision and how best to make it. Including understanding and interpreting the legal terms and conditions and building risk profiles
4. Writing the bid itself and how to execute it, ensuring you meet all the criteria
5. Operating environment, contract management, mobilisation, and exit or renewal
Rules reform consultation
On 16th March our FSB SIG had an influencing meeting with government where we fed into the rule reform consultation. A number of small business attended the call, with the main topics of discussion being:
· Remedies
· Award and selection
· Process
· Frameworks
· Digital
It was really interesting to hear how the thought processes are currently coming together and we talked a lot about the barriers to procurement for small businesses or VCSE sector organisations. We also discussed some key policy areas and how they may change over time, such as Buy British, the Green Agenda, Localism and SME communities.
On the back of that call I hope to have a follow up meeting with the Public Procurement Review Service (PPRS), previously known as the Mystery Shopper. This played into a conversation about escalation and governance and what levers small business have to call on if process is not utilised correctly (other than litigation). I’ll keep you updated on the progress of this in a future blog post.
Choosing local
One of the main motivating factors for me getting involved in some of the projects I’m currently working on, is to encourage a change in attitude around the procurement process. From a system that favours the traditional big players to one which encourages more small businesses and VCSE organisations to be involved and become local providers, drawing on local knowledge and expertise.
Good procurement should, in my opinion, celebrate diversity in the supply market. It shouldn't discriminate against any sector of business based on size. Instead it should deploy processes that are fit for purpose and ensure the right organisation for the job is found through the bid.
All too often however, the bid process itself is a barrier to entry for small organisations. This means that even where there is good intent, the process burden can count smaller players out.
It's my mission to be the spokesperson of these smaller businesses that often get overlooked, doing what I can to make sure their voices are amplified, and support is given where possible. It’s quality over quantity and with a bit more support and guidance, I truly believe we can diversify and strengthen the supply chain to the benefit of all involved.
What changes can be made now?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed there are around the same number of procurements being let and despite these uncertain times, it’s clear the show must go on. What’s still not clear though, is if more small businesses have had to pause through necessity, what impact this will have in terms of making bidding more or less attractive to them?
Is there more time to consider bids right now, or is it just too difficult a time? In any case, it's made me realise that our SIG can't afford to pause on developing good tools and support for small businesses to be able access the public sector. If anything, we need to add pace!
After all, with the changes we’re seeing right now, there’s never been a better time for fresh thinking. As we all know, it’s important not just to see the world the way you want it to be, but also to have the drive and determination to make it that way.
In 2019 I approached the Federation of Small Businesses asking if I could work with them on trying to make it easier for small businesses to access and work in the public sector. They invited me to set up and Chair a Special Interest Group (SIG). The SIG is made up of small businesses and public sector organisations and our one exam question is centred around that widening participation agenda. We have 4 activity streams in the SIG, one of which is SME/VCSE development program. We've called it Go4Growth and it's a free (forever) program and community. Go4Growth as a team is made up of several small businesses working together to help other SMEs and VCSEs to navigate the sometimes complex world of the Public Sector. We have a built a program that we believe can help any smaller business, regardless of type. Here are just a few of our current focus areas: 1. Helping businesses to grow in the Public Sector 2. Building relationships or taking the first steps to supply the Public Sector 3. Collaborative working or consortia/partnerships 4. Building greater economic resilience for the future 5. Recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 6. Dealing with Brexit, environmental or other issues Our program offers support in various ways; our aim is to ensure it's accessible to everyone, personalised to your business so support is given in a way that makes the most sense and adds the most value to you. I'm really proud to be Go4Growth, I'm proud of the program, how quickly we have developed it and how only a few weeks in we are seeing more and more businesses get involved so already we're identifying barriers and helping businesses to overcome them. For any small businesses or VCSEs out there reading this blog, give me a shout. The program is there to help you grow in the public sector and connect you with a fast growing business community. Gill gill@go4growth.co.uk www.twitter.com/Go4Growth_UK www.LinkedIn.com/Company/Go4Growth www.facebook.com/Go4GrowthUK www.facebook.com/groups/Go4Growth
This week I wanted to write something that relates directly to the ethos of All Things Procurement – the social enterprise I run – which is ‘see the world how you want it to be then make it that way’. So I’m going to talk about the kind of world I want to live in and the things I’m doing to contribute to making that world a reality. To do that I need to give you some background. I’m a 47 year old woman and I adore the profession I chose (albeit by accident) way back in 1995. I’m what I lovingly call a ‘career procurer’. It’s what I do, it’s part of who I am and it’s given me so many opportunities over the years to really make a difference. I feel very lucky to have the career I’ve had but I will admit, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Women in business I’ve worked in some sectors where my gender has definitely made it more difficult for me and I’ve felt the weight and pressure of that sadly many times. The need to work harder, be better, smarter, funnier even than my male counterparts and I’ve been that director where when I entered a boardroom full of my male peers, the quip was “Oh good, she’s here. Now we can have coffee” or being told I should categorically re-think the role I was about to undertake because no female executive had done it before, or when I got divorced to be told I was now “fair game”. It's not a small list sadly, and thankfully things have improved over the years but there is still much more to be done. Have those experiences soured me? No. Have they made me champion women in business? Absolutely yes. Last year I joined a Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Women in Entrepreneurship group because I want to help young women feel empowered to set up their own businesses. I want to support and mentor other females who have the burning desire to do great things but may not have the confidence to get started. I’ve been a part of women in business and women in procurement groups for years, all of which are designed to help women forge their careers without apology. I will do all I can to help women navigate their chosen career path because sometimes; all it takes is for somebody to see your potential, and help you take the all important first step in the right direction. Judge me on my talent Does any of this make me a feminist? I’ve often wondered about this over the years. I’m not a fan of labels, but I guess if I had one it would more likely be that of an individualist. I want to live in a world where your success is driven by your own ambition and on your talent; and those things alone. I want to live in a genuine meritocracy where the barriers to entry don’t exist and the equality of opportunity is tangible. I want to be judged on what I do and how I do it; my values, talent and work ethic. This is evident in how I am shaping All Things Procurement which is founded on the principles of widening participation. I’m focussing right now on helping the small business and VCSE communities access the public sector where it can be notoriously difficult for smaller organisations. I am helping to help shape the public sector into a place where every business has the same ability to access. I am both a small business and a public sector procurement professional and have been for many years now, so having the insight from both perspectives helps me make sense of how to level the playing field better. I am helping to create more local employment opportunities, build resilience into local economies, increase the social and economic outputs for communities and spend the taxpayers’ money better. Building diversity into the supply chain I’m focussing on helping make the public sector business environment both traversable and accessible for small businesses and VCSE’s. I’m happy to say I’m not alone in this and in doing so, the process itself starts to naturally build diversity into the supply chain. It’s a big ask and I’m grateful that the Special Interest Group I chair on behalf of the FSB is full of people who have the same ambition and aspirations. It takes real commitment and passion to drive through change and we’re starting to make a real difference. I’m Gillian. And I’ve seen the world how I want it to be and I’m doing my bit to make it that way.