Business and Other Briefings

CO: Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has unveiled the pilot of the Government’s ‘Solutions Exchange’ tool, which will particularly help SMEs connect with Government and find out about potential ways to sell to the public sector or to pitch an innovative business idea.
 
Tendering for Government business in the UK has traditionally been lengthy & expensive, with UK procurements costing twice as much as France and often shutting SMEs out.  

This new service will allow the Government to engage the market informally before any formal procurement processes have started.  It will give suppliers, particularly SMEs, a quick, ‘free of charge’ way to pitch innovative ideas to save money & improve public services.
Press release & links
 
Cebr: A study by the Centre for Economics & Business Research concludes that, not only has the effective application of quality management (QM) procedures already contributed to past UK business & economic successes and that it will continue to do so in the future, but that it could well provide an important foundation on which future business & institutional success could be built.  Such success is vital to the task of returning the UK to positive economic growth.
Press release & links ~ Chartered Quality Institute (CQI)
 
HMRCRevenue & Customs Brief 20/12
This Brief explains the changes that will be made to the treatment of fuel additives with effect from 1 January 2013.
Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story