HUB East Central Scotland and Perth & Kinross Council, in partnership with the Supplier Development Programme (SDP), will host a free online event on August 12 designed to give local businesses the chance to meet supply chain representatives from BAM Construction and Robertson Construction to discuss upcoming projects.
The Meet the Contractor event is aimed at micro, small and medium-sized businesses within the Perth & Kinross Council area, but is open to SMEs across Scotland. Suppliers will have the chance to learn about supply chain opportunities within the construction industry.
Amanda Wright, community benefits and social values manager, hub East Central Scotland, said, “The event on 12 August creates a unique opportunity for businesses to engage with our Tier 1 contractors and bid for contract opportunities on several key public infrastructure projects in Perth & Kinross. It is our priority that wherever possible our projects are delivered by local businesses that employ local people. Our partnership with SDP will play a significant role in creating more opportunities for local suppliers, increasing access to our Tier 1 contractors as well as providing them with advice and support to successfully bid for contracts.
“More than half of the value of our project work is awarded to companies within our territory. We look forward to working with SDP to build on our success and grow the proportion of local work though effective awareness and engagement initiatives alongside our local authority clients.”
hub East Central Scotland revealed this is the first of several supplier engagement events planned for the coming year.
Gillian Cameron, SDP programme manager, added, “SDP is delighted to announce hub East Central Scotland as our first corporate ambassador member. Through our partnership, hub East Central Scotland will be able to further demonstrate best practices that include sustainability, engagement of local suppliers and community benefit clauses.
“hub East Central Scotland is trailblazing a direct role in the construction sector by joining up local supply chain opportunities with existing local authority procurement objectives. This partnership, which includes Perth & Kinross Council, demonstrates the joined-up approach SDP takes to strengthen connections between the local authority’s procurement and economic development departments, now with hub East Central Scotland and its Tier 1 contractors, to maximise the economic benefit to local Tayside businesses and residents.”
All businesses must register via the supplier development programme website at www.sdpscotland.co.uk.