Content of the Programme

The content of the training programme is focused around five modular areas of subject matter:

Introductions to Public Sector procurement

• It will instil a clear understanding amongst participants of the public sector, and the methods employed within the sector in purchasing goods and services
• It will lay the foundation of an engagement strategy identifying organisations that participants could target as part of their marketing campaign

The Tendering process

This seminar is designed to develop beneficiary understanding of the tendering process, and introduce concepts of best practice in tendering using an 11-step approach:

- Identifying need and funds

- Preparing a business case

- Approval by the delegated authority

- Specifying the requirement

- Setting a procurement strategy

- Selecting potential contractors

- Inviting tenders

- Evaluating tenders

- Post-tender negotiation

- Award contract

- Debriefing unsuccessful tenderers

Diagnosis of SME procurement capacity

The objective of the diagnosis review is to determine a company's strengths and weaknesses; and build a robust overview of the company's effectiveness in terms of its management structures, market focus and resource management. This appraisal tool will determine the organisation's baseline capacity and skills in relation to general procurement and e-procurement requirements.

Mentoring of SME's during and after their programme of formal training

This module will be delivered as a series of one to one contact sessions and mentoring, to provide and essential layer of follow up support after the programme of training as defined above.

The support will be tailored to the specific need and requests of each organisation, although mentoring support will focus around smoothing the implementation of what has been learned throughout the training sessions, filling any gaps in knowledge about the themes covered, and advising on practical techniques to enhance the successful implementation of new initiatives the beneficiary company is pursuing.

How to present information to tendering organisations to achieve best results

• Developing and providing supporting documentation (eg. Equalities, Environmental, Health and Safety)
• Managing references
• Financial information
• Defining organisational structure and dealing with capacity, experience and transferable skills
• Creating stature and credibility
• Company collateral