WIREDGOV

Wales’ Finance Minister, Jane Hutt yesterday told a conference in Belfast of the huge progress the Welsh Government has made in its procurement policy to eradicate blacklisting, improve community benefits and open up contracts for businesses in Wales 

Speaking at an event organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Minister highlighted the success of the Community Benefits policy and spoke of her commitment to improving opportunities for small businesses in Wales.

The Minister also spoke about how the Welsh Government is leading the way in ensuring public sector bodies are able to exclude blacklisters from bidding for public sector contracts.

Jane Hutt said:

"In December 2012 I launched the Wales Procurement Policy Statement which includes all of the approaches promoted by the Welsh Government that help to balance the need for securing efficiencies through procurement against the opportunity of delivering wider social and economic benefits.  

"Our Community Benefits policy is a key part of the Policy statement.  This policy builds social clauses into contracts and has targeted recruitment and training as a primary objective that includes apprenticeships and trainee opportunities.  

"The Policy is making a positive difference for the people and communities of Wales.  The results from the first completed 28 projects, worth £360m, that have applied the policy show that 84% has been re-invested in Wales.  £95.4m has gone directly on salaries to Welsh people and £216m with Welsh-based businesses.

"Since launching the Statement, I have also taken the initiative on introducing policy that enables us to use procurement to protect the interests of vulnerable members of society. In September last year, I issued guidance to every public body in Wales setting out how procurement can be used to help eliminate the abhorrent practice of blacklisting. This has had immediate impact. Contractors who have previously used blacklists are now providing evidence that illustrates that our policy is changing their behaviours and are adopting the responsible  business standards that we expect."  

Speaking about the other policies contained within the Policy Statement the Minister added:

"My policies are committed to ensuring that contracts are open and accessible for all suppliers.  The number of advertisements for contract opportunities below the European Thresholds on our national procurement portal, Sell2Wales, continues to grow and now stands at 81% of all opportunities advertised.  Visibility of these contracts is vital for smaller, local suppliers and third sector organisations.  

"I’m pleased with the progress we have made over the last twelve months and I am committed to driving forward this agenda to even greater effect.  

"Our innovative procurement policies, designed in consultation with business and public sector stakeholders, have opened the doors for smaller, local suppliers as well as creating employment opportunities for local people.

"It’s important that we maintain this collective effort so we can use the experience of others to inform our future thinking."