Winning Council Business!

Suppliers took advantage of the fantastic opportunity to be involved in the Council’s procurement projects, by meeting the Council’s buying teams face to face recently.

The Local Supplier Development Project organised a free ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council services. This event was funded by the European Funded Initiative.

The event was opened by Councillor Eudine Hanagan Cabinet Member for Better Public Services and Transport, and saw 8 buyers from Procurement, Environmental Services, CICT, Leisure Services, Corporate Estates and County Borough Supplies meet with 75 potential suppliers.

A Business Exhibition was also displayed, represented by Business Support organisations which included, SME Engage, Constructionline, Rhondda Cynon Taf Procurement, Rhondda Cynon Taf Business Club, Local Supplier Development Project and Newport Chamber of Commerce.

Building relationships and winning contracts from departments within large organisations can be difficult, so this event offered a unique opportunity to bring together interested suppliers and buying departments from within the Council who discussed their forthcoming contracts for 2008/2009. Suppliers were able to assess the possibilities of being included in the tendering process of new projects.

Vince Hanly, Director of Procurement for Rhondda-Cynon-Taff CBC, said: "The feedback has been very positive with as many as 70 local suppliers attending and receiving information about contract opportunities within the council, due to this fantastic success we intend to run this on an annual basis. I would also like to thank all those who participated in this important part of the Council's  Procurement and Regeneration strategy and I am confident that the buyers benefited from the information given on the day."