Over 5,000 organisations have signed-up to a new website to win business with local authorities in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull.
The Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Joint E-Tendering System (CSW-JETS) was launched last May with support from Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s (CWLEP) SME Business Group to help promote it to the local business community.
In eight months, 5,046 organisations including SMEs, voluntary groups, social enterprises and multi-national companies have logged on to www.csw-jets.co.uk to register their details with the website which details the tendering opportunities available across the area.
Stratford District Council will be the final authority to join the electronic tendering system on April 1 alongside Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Solihull Community Housing and Warwick District Council.
Registration for the new portal is free with businesses then being able to express interest in work which becomes available from the authorities who can also access the details of businesses to invite them to tender or quote for work.
Amrik Bhabra, chairman of the CWLEP SME Business Group, said the number of businesses to have signed-up to CSW-JETS was extremely encouraging.
“The portal is really gaining momentum and it is great news that soon all the local authorities will have joined the system,” he said.
“This gives SMEs throughout Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull one single point of contact to find out about tenders for products and services which are available from our local authorities.
“Registering on the portal is straight-forward and only takes a few minutes and once a business has registered then their details can be accessed by local authorities.
“The feedback we have received from SMEs indicates that the registration process was much simpler than they were expecting and we are starting to see companies who have joined the portal win contracts which is the best possible endorsement.
“It makes sense to have a one-stop shop to give SMEs the best possible chance of competing to provide work for the public sector.
“The e-tendering portal has been promoted at events run by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses which has helped to dispel any myths that this is not for SMEs.
“CWLEP is committed to providing the right kind of environment for businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to thrive and this portal is certainly helping to achieve that.
“The initiative is aiming to reduce red tape for businesses and by local authorities working together this is a win for local businesses.”