Find it in Sandwell
Sandwell Council has scored a UK first with it's online business network which was launched in April 2007. To date over £80 million worth of business has been posted on the site and over 2000 local businesses have benefited from registering on the online initiative.
Called “finditinsandwell” the website, which is FREE aims to introduce Sandwell firms to the business opportunities arising from the borough’s regeneration projects by providing a network to access potential opportunities.
Christmas Fayre in the Square
Sandwell MBC are holding a huge open-air Christmas Fayre in the Square, on 26th November, to showcase local businesses and get Sandwell into a festive mood ! A huge market will promote Christmas gifts and festive services offered by local businesses.
Sandwell MBC spends £220m a year on Goods & Services and holds the purse strings for a further £3 billion pounds to be invested in regeneration activity due to take place in the borough. Sandwell is set to benefit from new homes, schools, colleges, hospitals, town centre re-development and road schemes, the investment being pumped into the borough amounts to hundreds of millions of pounds.
In addition to public sector spend; there is a wealth of purchasing activity for goods and services that takes place amongst the borough's business community. For example: every business needs * accountants * transport * stationery * IT equipment and services * uniforms * waste management * packaging * property maintenance *security *etc etc.
Steve Massey - the council’s local purchasing co-ordinator "Taking everything into account, it's boom-time for Sandwell, the borough's annual spend amounts to multi-millions of pounds, there are multiple opportunities on the doorstep for Sandwell businesses, and the website will be used to showcase and align these opportunities to local companies whilst helping to build a stronger, greener economy for Sandwell".
In addition to accessing business opportunities, “Find it in Sandwell” provides a platform for local businesses to showcase what their business is all about, each business that registers can create their own mini-site to advertise their supply capabilities, they can upload there company logo, include their unique selling points, upload brochures, photo’s and link to their own websites.
He added “Find it in Sandwell” aims to raise awareness of the resources that are available right here in Sandwell, we have over 10,000 businesses in the borough, and the supply directory of the site is designed to get local businesses noticed by promoting “what they can supply”.
Companies that register should think carefully about what people might search for when looking for a business like theirs, make sure your business can be found when you build your mini-site and list everything your business does”.
This is an important feature because if the capabilities of a supplier match those requirements outlined in a posted business opportunity, the supplier will be alerted of a potential opportunity by email.
Overall “Find it in Sandwell” aims to give companies the best opportunities to grow and hopefully “win business on merit”.
It is of particular benefit to the borough’s smaller businesses, many of which, do not have the resources of a large sales team to chase opportunities or the services of procurement professionals to secure the best supply arrangements.
It is a great avenue for establishing their business as the site helps them to be part of a business network, they can access business opportunities but they can also use the site to "Source cost effective Products or Services".
Steve continued “Every business has to buy things in order to operate - from landscaping to lightbulbs - from staples to websites so let's make Sandwell's economy stronger by sourcing things from within the borough. It's greener, often cheaper, endorses the use of local products and it’s great for Sandwell’s business community, so why not source your next purchase through finditinsandwell.co.uk.
Other features of the website include a free facility to advertise employment vacancies and access to recruitment services provided through the Council’s “Think Local” network, there is also a dedicated business-support portal with details of networking events and regular updated business news. Steve continued Businesses often become frustrated by the perceived bureaucracy associated in dealing with the public sector. For businesses, “time is money” and any delays in processing applications or awaiting feedback can be costly. Well that’s about to change in Sandwell!
We would urge businesses to register their companies on www.finditinsandwell.co.uk and participate in this free initiative so that we can build the network, you’ll make cost-effective purchasing arrangements, reduce your carbon footprint and help to build up the Sandwell network for when you're looking for more business”. Alternatively you can contact Steve Massey Sandwell MBC on 0121 569 2105.