The Scottish Government has allocated £360,000 to help small and medium sized businesses bid for public sector contracts.
The money to the Supplier Development Programme (SDP) will help an additional 2,200 firms across all sectors develop their digital capability and become more efficient when bidding for and fulfilling public contracts.
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will receive advice on attracting online trade and guidance on transacting electronically with the public sector through dozens of events, training opportunities and a new SDP website set up by funding from the Scottish Government’s Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership.
The programme will supplement existing services provided by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Ready for Business and the Supplier Development Programme.
The public sector currently spends about £10 billion a year on contracts, with 46% going to SMEs.
Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said: “This new funding for the Supplier Development Programme will play a key role in helping suppliers participate in procurement exercises, and is a great example of public services in Scotland working together to develop our economic capacity.”
Earlier this month the Scottish Parliament passed the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill, making it a duty for public bodies to consider how they facilitate the involvement of SMEs, third sector bodies and supported businesses in procurements.