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January 2012 | 
Happy New Year! 2012 is already shaping up to be a challenging but exciting year, and although the economy remains unsteady, there are still many schemes, developments and events which will present opportunities for new business and company growth. Compete North East will continue to work with a large number of powerful purchasing organisations, social housing providers and local authorities to represent the interests of the SME community in the North East and continue to support businesses to identify and win contract opportunities and become supply chain ready.
Although the Olympics are now less than 200 days away, there are still opportunities available for businesses in the North East to take advantage of, particularly concerning the numerous events that will be taking place in our region to celebrate this unique year. We are already aware of a great number of business and supply opportunities related to the Olympic torch relay’s journey through the region and will be communicating these very shortly, please keep checking the website and twitter account, @CompeteNE for updates.
You will shortly receive an email asking you to check and update your information. If you haven’t already done so, please take five minutes to check the information we have about your business is correct. We use this information to match and directly inform you of potential new business opportunities related to your businesses skills and capabilities. The more information we have about your business, the easier it is for us to match you to relevant opportunities.
Best Wishes,
Paul Taylor
Head of Business Engagement, Compete North East |
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Future of Olympic Venues announced
The Olympic Park Legacy Company has finalised procurement exercises and appointed operators for the Aquatics Centre, Multi-Use Arena and ArcelorMittal Orbit attraction after the Olympic Games. Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) will operate the Aquatics Centre and the Multi-Use Arena, to be used for handball during the Games, but capable of hosting a range of sports and exhibitions or concerts.
Balfour Beatty WorkPlace will run the ArcelorMittal Orbit attraction and manage the maintenance of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The Multi-Use Arena is set to reopen in 2013, with the Aquatics Centre and the ArcelorMittal Orbit reopening in 2014.The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will reopen in phases from 2013 following major transformation work following the Games.
The deals will generate 254 full-time jobs with 75 per cent of jobs from the two contracts going to residents in one of the host boroughs, including Tower Hamlets and Greenwich. Eighty-six apprenticeships will also be generated every year during the ten year contracts, starting from 2013.
Chair of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, Baroness Margaret Ford, said: The contractors will play a key part in creating a park that is a thriving visitor destination with world class sporting venues that are both affordable and accessible to the public.”
Prices for using the venues will be comparable to local sports facilities and it is promised that small and medium sized enterprises will benefit from supply opportunities. |
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NHS Trusts agree to use Peto Website to control procurement spend
Procurement professionals at 176 NHS trusts have agreed to use a product comparison website to gain visibility and control of spend.
176 of the 252 foundation, acute, mental health and ambulance trusts in England and Wales –with a combined £3 billion annual procurement spend – have agreed to use the Peto website.
There are over 13,000 products listed on the site that buyers can view for free. The number of listed products is expected to rise to more than 50,000 items by February.
Simon Walsh, head of procurement and e-commerce at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “This is a really well thought-through solution and we will be using it in particular to help gain visibility and control over some of our spend areas.”
There are around 850 suppliers currently registered on the website. Suppliers can place a limited number of products on the site for free and are charged for additional ones. Products can also be rated by users of the website.
For more information please visit www.peto.co.uk. |
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Don't miss out on opportunities- update your Compete North East profile
You will shortly received an email asking you to update your details on the Compete North East Database. Please respond to this- it is important- we will use this to directly inform you of new business opportunities over the coming months.
The more Compete North East know about your business, the easier it is for our team to match you to the most relevant opportunities as soon as they are published.
If you have any questions about the survey, or would like to discuss how Compete North East could help your business win more contracts, please contact us on 0191 426 6488 |
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The UKTI British Business Club
The UKTI British Business Club is helping businesses make the most of business networking activity around London 2012 and other major sports events now and in the future.
The British Business Club helps businesses find out more about the export opportunities being generated around the world through the Country’s experience of hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Businesses can receive support and information about making the most out of business opportunities around the Games and ongoing Olympic legacy and advice on winning contracts at future sporting events.
Businesses who have won contracts to supply the London 2012 Olympic Games or have experience supplying major sporting events are invited to join the club as ambassadors and share their experiences of supplying with businesses looking to supply to future sporting events.
For more information about the British Business Club please Click Here |
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Ask the Team...
Each month the Compete North East team will discuss an area of procurement, new legislation or supply chain opportunities that our customers regularly ask us about. If there is an area you would like support in, or a piece of legislation you are not quite clear about, please contact us and we will endeavour to address your query.
This month we are looking at revised EU Public Procurement Thresholds.
The European Commission has published new public sector procurement directives which came into force on the 1 January 2012. The thresholds at which it is necessary to advertise a contract have risen slightly and these new limits will apply until 31 December 2013. If a contract does not exceed the threshold amount, awarding organisations are not obliged to advertise the works.
The new thresholds apply for award procedures under the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006 and the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011.
The threshold for supplies and services contracts awarded by central government has been increased from £101,323 to £113,057 (€130,000). For other contracting public authorities tendering contracts, the threshold has risen from £156,442 to £173,934 (€200,000). For works contracts the threshold has risen to £4,348,350.
The Government had pressed the European Commission to raise the thresholds substantially and making them subject to changes in inflation as well as proposing a process of simplification to help and encourage SMEs and other suppliers to tender for contract opportunities. Click Here to read the full UK Government response to the European Commission's review of public purchasing |
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Events
Local Produce for 2012- Hotel Food and Drink Meet the Buyer Event
Marriott Hotel, Metro Centre
Wednesday 29 February 2012
12pm- 5pm
£45 +VAT
Compete North East and NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) are staging a Hotel Food and Drink Meet the Buyer event providing local food and beverage suppliers the opportunity to meet directly with Head Chefs, General Managers and Food and Beverage Managers from hotels and attractions from all over the region.
With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games just around the corner, there is huge opportunity for hotels and attractions to cater for the thousands for visitors who are expected to flood into the region and update their knowledge and understanding of the local produce market.
If you have what it takes to supply to some of the region’s biggest and best hotels and attractions, don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to showcase your produce and have short, pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings with buyers.
There will also be an opportunity to hear from the organisers of Eat! Festival about this year’s Olympic themed event taking place between the 13th and 29th July.
Compete North East will also be holding a ‘Perfect Pitch’ Event on the 23rd February where you will hear from national food and drink buyer Aramark about the importance of the perfect pitch, what buyers are looking for during a pitch and learn how to construct and deliver the perfect contract winning pitch. The event will complement any supplier who is considering attending the Meet the Buyer event on the 29th February and helps you to prepare for pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings with Hotel and Attraction’s buyers looking to procure local food and drink suppliers.
If you are attending the Hotel Food and Drink Meet the Buyer, then the cost of the Perfect Pitch workshop is included in the £45 +VAT charge.
For more information on either of these events or to secure a place please contact Amanda Nichol on:
Email: amanda@btob.co.uk
Phone: 0191 426 6333
Business to Business-Sustainable Solutions: Building & Construction Meet the Buyer
21st March 2012
9:00am- 5:00pm
Xcel Centre, Darlington
£195+ VAT
Improve the sustainability of your supply chain and discover innovative suppliers who can bring cost savings and added value to your business.
Sustainable Solutions: Building & Construction Meet the Buyer enables companies to meet and sell to buyers who are all actively looking for new sources of sustainable products and services. Registering for the event allows you to book private, face-to-face appointments with the buyers of your choice. No more cold calls or wasted mailshots – just private meetings with the very people you want to speak to.
To Find out more or to book a place contact Amanda Nichol on 0191 426 6333 or email Amanda@btob.co.uk or visit the website
The Northumberland Food Event 2012
6th March 2012
9:30am to 4:30pm
Holiday Inn, Great North Road, Seaton Burn, Newcastle upon Tyne NE13 6BP
A must attend Food Event for retail and catering businesses in Northumberland where there will be an opportunity to meet a range of local and regional food producers, pickup some useful tips from top chefs and receive guidance and advice on how to run a successful food business. For more information and to register Click Here
UKTI Construction Inward Mission
19th-23rd March
UKTI will be hosting a delegation from CBIC in Brazil (The Brazilian Chamber of Construction), with the delegation made up of senior representatives from high profile Brazilian Construction Companies.
The aim of the Mission is to showcase the UK’s construction expertise in design / architecture, master planning, consultancy, construction products and particularly the UK’s outstanding expertise in green and sustainable construction.
On the second day of the Trade Mission, Tuesday the 20th of March, there will be a seminar about the vast construction opportunities for UK companies in Brazil. If you would like to register your initial interest in the seminar please email Kim@btob.co.uk.
We value your feedback! Is there anything else you would like to see in this newsletter? Does our website contain enough information? Are you happy with the Compete North East service? Let us know at enquiries@competenortheast.co.uk
Follow us on  @competeNE | |
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