Like many other countries globally, most of the UK Government’s policies are delivered through projects. These projects tend to be diverse in their scale, objectives and nature, and often span numerous government departments. It’s vital, therefore, that these projects are delivered successfully so the government’s policy objectives can be realised. At the heart of these projects is the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), which has the mandate of supporting the delivery of these projects.
As the guardian of the government’s portfolio of projects, IPA has the task of creating a project system capable of ensuring the best performance. To accomplish this, four main activities are prioritised by the authority, including setting up of projects, inspiring market confidence, creating the capability to deliver, and measuring (and improving) performance.
For the period 2016-17, IPA published an annual report on the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), a compilation of 143 projects worth £455.5 billion. These projects were in line with the government’s priorities of making sure that the UK’s infrastructure was fit for modern times, security was upheld, and public services could be digitised.
The rollout and implementation of these projects present substantial opportunities for small businesses across the UK. Indeed, even the government knows this, thanks to an acknowledgement in 2018 by the Minister of Implementation, Oliver Dowden, on the opportunities that lay ahead for these businesses. Further, he highlighted the government’s wish to ensure that by 2022, 33 percent of procurement should be handled by small businesses.
The government’s commitment goes beyond talk. Already, it has implemented some changes in public procurement that make life easier for smaller players, including eliminating pre-qualification questionnaires, breaking down contracts into smaller, more accessible lots, and setting achievable payment targets for the government. Figures from 2015-16 indicate that as much as £5.6 billion was spent on small businesses, and when sub-contracts from larger suppliers to small businesses were considered, that amount topped £12 billion.
The Time Is Now
Solicitors such as Thomas Noel Collister Jackson, know that getting involved in major projects has lots of benefits, including the potential for longer-term work, future engagement in other mega projects, and the chance to gain credibility. To accomplish all this, however, small business owners must know how to get involved.
Some of the ways to do this include:
- Use Available Government Resources – The starting point for a small business looking for contracting opportunities for goods and services in England is Contracts Finder, the online platform where these contracts are advertised. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have similar platforms that businesses can access to find opportunities.
- Think Innovatively – Small businesses that operate in niche environments ideally have less competition to deal with, giving them the advantage of making a lasting mark and reinforcing their strength in the market. Technology is one of the ways to innovate, but for a creative business owner, there are other ways to think outside the box.
- Be Known as an Expert – Entrepreneurs can benefit greatly if they are known within their industries as the go-to professionals or companies. Such recognition can present opportunities to work on complex and big projects.
- Explore Partnerships – Increased collaboration between small businesses has plenty of benefits, including the achievement of innovation, technical excellence and agility that a single business may not fully provide. A business that partners with other high-performing entities can also realise some of the benefits of scale that may be required when undertaking large projects.