CHAS urges contractors not to miss out on public sector opportunities
Posted by: electime 11th July 2023
With spending on private suppliers in public sector construction more than doubling in recent years, CHAS, a Veriforce company, is urging businesses to ensure they are ready to take advantage of public sector opportunities.
Latest data from the Tussell Public Sector Construction Market Report shows that public sector spending with private suppliers rose from £10bn in 2016 to 23bn in 2021.
While the top construction firms took a significant share of the revenue, the report also emphasises how selling directly to the public sector can offer big opportunities for contractors of all sizes. Some of those that benefitted showed not only a marked increase in spend values but also in their volume of buyers, inevitably opening the door to future work.
Yet despite these opportunities, many businesses are still missing out. CHAS Managing Director Ian McKinnon explains: “Public sector procurement is a huge opportunity, yet it is still untapped by many. Some businesses are losing out because they are unsure how to demonstrate that they and their supply chains are fit to serve the public sector. But there is also a perception that winning public sector contracts is too resource intense with businesses worried that they will have to jump through endless hoops or even that it is a closed book.”
Building supply chains fit for public procurement
However, building trusted supply chains that are fit for public procurement doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming, especially if you enlist the help of a supply chain expert such as CHAS. The free CHAS client portal can help companies easily build supply chains that stand up to scrutiny. The secure, cloud-based platform provides more than 2,500 CHAS client businesses with comprehensive compliance data on more than 32,500 CHAS-accredited contractors and suppliers. It enables users to evaluate risks in their supply chains and monitor, manage and make informed decisions about who they choose to work with.
Ian McKinnon adds: “As our longstanding CHAS Clients will testify, with the right support, bidding for public sector work doesn’t have to be a headache. CHAS can help clients improve their procurement processes and save time and money while building supply chains that stand up to public and private sector scrutiny.”
Specifying the Common Assessment Standard
The CHAS Client portal also enables users to find contractors accredited to the Common Assessment Standard, the elite standard for construction procurement, which features in the government’s latest procurement policy note (PPN) 03/23. The CHAS Common Assessment Standard takes into account 13 areas of risk management within a single assessment including Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Corporate & Professional Standing, Environmental, Equality Diversity & Inclusion, Financial, Identity, Health & Safety, Insurance, Modern Slavery, Quality, Corporate Social Responsibility, Information Management and Information Security. It is reviewed annually to ensure it reflects the latest rules, regulations, and compliance concerns.
The focus on the Common Assessment Standard in (PPN) 02/23 reflects an overall drive towards more transparent and responsible procurement in the UK as set out in the Procurement Bill. There is also a growing focus on prioritising local employment and making opportunities more accessible to SMEs.
CHAS Managing Director Ian McKinnon concludes: “Public procurement is changing for the better with a move towards a more transparent approach with greater opportunities for all. It’s time for companies of all sizes to shake off outdated beliefs that public sector work is not for them.
“CHAS can provide the answer to companies looking to increase transparency in their supply chains and help them onboard contractors who comply with the required standards. Demonstrating compliance shouldn’t be the barrier to accessing the abundance of opportunity that awaits in the public sector.”
