Nurse your tender headache

NHS Tender Training Workshop

Does your business want to get involved with supplying the NHS? Are you working with the NHS and finding the tendering process a burden?

If so, Groundwork are offering current and prospective NHS suppliers the opportunity to improve their tender prospects through a North West Development Agency funded project. Part of the project includes an NHS Tender Training Workshop, which will be held on Friday 14th October at the Lowry in Salford Quays.

The NHS plays a major role in economic regeneration, spending £2.2 billion last year on goods and services in the Northwest alone, but only a small proportion of this figure is spent with local businesses. By the NHS demonstrating their Good Corporate Citizen role through procurement, it can influence regeneration, improve health and reduce environmental impact. 

This can have a massive impact on the local area especially for smaller businesses.  As the is NHS is working towards a more collaborative purchasing structure, they will expect the best from supply chain businesses This project can assist by preparing and developing businesses to enable them to effectively engage with the NHS.

This practical project aims to connect businesses with the NHS by showing them how to develop the necessary operational standards and knowledge to successfully tender to the NHS. It is intended to benefit Northwest businesses, existing or potential NHS suppliers, by providing information and support on the tendering process, key NHS procurement contacts and a central access point to view NHS tender opportunities, work plans and support to control and improved health, safety and environmental risk and performance.  Signposting to further business support will also be available through the comprehensive network of business support organisation.

The NHS will benefit too, by further developing sustainable procurement and demonstrating the Good Corporate Citizen Agenda within the NHS. Risks will be reduced through improved control over contractors.

This project has a dedicated NHS Procurement Manager, David Ford seconded from the NHS Purchasing & Supply Agency.

David Ford said, “The NHS has recognised the impact they can have on the regeneration of an area through using and developing local suppliers. This spend represents a major opportunity for most suppliers, although they need to be aware of the requirements and changing structure of the NHS. This project will improve a suppliers’ capability to supply into the NHS.”

The initial NHS Tender training course will cover a general overview of NHS Procurement, key NHS procurement contact details, the structure and role of the NHS purchasing department, do’s and don’ts when tendering or selling to the NHS, guidance on health, safety and the environment, access to other business support and an invitation to attend a one to one procurement clinic, with David Ford, which will focus on drafting a strategy for your business to target NHS procurement.

The half-day course is FREE and will be held in the Hexagon Room at the Lowry in Salford Quays. Places are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis. If you would like to attend please contact Phil Morton at Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale on 0161 624 1444.