Buy Local Spend Local

Buy Local Spend Local

Small businesses are being encouraged to take up business opportunities with Rochdale Council and other public sector organisations.

Rochdale Council is holding a Buy Local Spend Local event at Rochdale Town Hall on Thursday 7 December.

More than 20 of the Council’s senior decision makers will make time to meet the business community of Rochdale for one-to-one introductions.

The event will include the signing of a Small Business Concordat by Roger Ellis, the Council’s Chief Executive, plus communication of the Council’s new procurement strategy, workshops and training about networking and supplying to the public sector and an exhibition and networking opportunities for local businesses.

Roger Ellis said: “We are pleased to join with our public sector partners to create a platform for building closer relationships with the local business community. Signing the Concordat should make it easier for small businesses to compete, providing a boost to the Borough’s economy.”

For the first time ever the Council is allowing its key decision makers and purchasing professionals to see what local businesses have to offer.

The reason for the move is that research shows that small businesses now offer the public sector serious advantages compared to large national organisations.

Previously, contracts had been seen to be out of reach to the small business, but now the Council is about to sign a Small Business Concordat.

The document ‘raises the game’ of both the local authority and small business community, re-affirming the fact that the mutual value and impact of the local economy are inextricably linked.

The event at the Town Hall will run from 12 noon to 3pm. There are a limited number of exhibition spaces that will be provided on a first come, first served, basis.

Amongst services represented at the event will be Rochdale Council’s Culture, Sport and Leisure, Environmental Management, and Education services, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, Greater Manchester Fire amp; Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Police, Heywood, Middleton amp; Rochdale PCT and Greater Manchester Ambulance Service.

Also available will be guidance and workshops on how to tender and write winning bids and there will be a chance to network.