WIREDGOV

This week techUK has launched its fourth GovTech SME Survey. Each year we undertake this survey to better understand the experience of SMEs in the public sector tech market.

The findings from the survey are used to develop recommendations to promote GovTech innovation, ensure a smoother experience when it comes to procurement, and generally help improve access to the public sector market for SMEs.  

The  2017 GovTech SME Survey highlighted that 90% of SMEs did not think that civil servant buyers have a good understanding of how SMEs can meet their needs, and 95% of SMEs stated that government should be doing more to improve the SME experience as part of the supply chain route selling into the public sector. The findings showed that civil servants aren't aware early enough in the commissioning process of what is available in the market and there isn't enough of an understanding of the benefits SMEs can provide. But it was clear that SMEs on the whole find procurement frameworks such as G-Cloud useful.

On the back of the 2017 GovTech SME Survey, throughout 2018 techUK has been working on a series of market engagement events to help SMEs engage better with government and gain business. We also launched our Procuring the Smarter State Report and hosted a GovTech SME Roundtable.

Henry Rex, techUK’s new Head of Public Sector, said

“I’m delighted to launch this year’s GovTech SME survey. The survey provides us with valuable data points to help us make the case to Government on behalf of the GovTech SME community. And the feedback from respondents informs the development of practical recommendations to promote innovation in the public sector, and help dynamic British based SMEs to scale and grow.

The public sector has been making progress towards their SME targets, but more needs to be done to ensure UK public services can really make the most of GovTech innovation. So I’d encourage any public sector tech suppliers (or aspiring suppliers) to complete the survey.”

COMPLETE THE SURVEY HERE