A social enterprise has launched a free accreditation service to help charities win public sector contracts.
Go4Growth’s Public Sector Supply Ready accreditation (PSSR) is freely available to all voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises (VCSEs) as well as small to medium enterprises.
The accreditation shows that the organisation is a suitable provider and meets the required demands and standards set out by commissioners.
Making contracts ‘more readily accessible’
PSSR was designed to help providers secure public sector contracts and make these “more readily accessible” to them.
Go4Growth said it developed the accreditation to “increase the quality and quantity of VCSE applications in the public sector” as most small businesses lack experience when it comes to working with public sector organisations and are not considered as potential clients.
The accreditation will also support public sector procurement staff by “helping them to easily identify suppliers that have invested in their knowledge of the procurement process and are ready to apply for opportunities”, the organisation said.
Organisations that wish to apply for PSSR status must complete a questionnaire and go through two stages to show that they have the required tools, knowledge and understanding of processes needed to work in the public sector.
Go4Growth offers free guidance and training to any organisations that require further assistance to obtain the status, as well as a carbon net-zero action plan tool to help them reduce their carbon emissions and evidence that in public sector bids.
‘Perfect platform’ for VCSEs
Gillian Askew, director at Go4Growth, said: “Increasing work with SMEs and VCSEs in the public sector will not only help to grow the local economy, but also create job opportunities, whilst fulfilling the public sector’s commitment to supporting local enterprise.
“This new accreditation will provide the perfect platform for many SMEs and VCSEs to access the public sector market, and to get over any obstacles that may have previously stood in their way.”
Go4Growth works with 7,200 businesses including local borough councils, NHS trusts and the Ministry of Justice and aims to assist smaller organisations in building the skills and confidence they need to win public contracts.
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