WIREDGOV

The CBI welcomed the Government launch of a consultation to make SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) procurement more accessible.

Jim Bligh, CBI Head of Public Services Reform, said:

“There is huge potential for smaller firms to supply the public sector with goods and services but too often the bureaucracy barrier is too high.

“Opening up public services markets to lots more companies will boost competition and means the Government and the taxpayer will pay less.

“We want to see the pre-qualifying process simplified and a debate on the introduction of standard payment terms throughout the supply chain – these changes will have a much bigger impact than any move towards quotas for SME contracts.”