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Doing Business Press Release
Doing Business Press Release
Kingston Council does the business
On 26 September 2006 Kingston Council hosted an event with local businesses to identify how the Council can help local businesses win work from the Council and help stimulate the local economy through its new Procurement Strategy. A prosperous and thriving local economy is one of the Council'skey objectives, in recognition of the role local businesses play in creating employment.
The event was attended by over 65 members of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses. The evening began with a welcome by the Executive Member for Performance and Improvement, Councillor Ian Reid, who stressed the importance of developing partnership working between local businesses and the Council.
Cllr Ian Reid said; "A key aim of the Council's Procurement Strategy is to support the local economy and increase the opportunities for local suppliers to do business with the Council.
This was another innovative event by the Council which was a great success. We will be reviewing the outcomes to help identify any changes we need to make for the future."
Head of Strategic Services, Gerry Sevenoaks, went on to emphasise the Council’s commitment to doing business locally, highlighting the new Procurement Framework launched in April, the training and guidance of council staff involved in procurement and how the Council was now working with suppliers through its new Partnership Charter. This was followed with presentations from Council Officers on the ways in which it is possible do business with Council, how the tendering process works and the support that is available to businesses.
Lisa Gagliani, Kingston Chamber of Commerce said; “Our members were very interested in what the council had to say and by inviting us in we now have a route to market. The Kingston Business Directory will be a great help when it goes live, making it easier for buyers to identify local suppliers. This will enable us to make great strides to further improve on the value of procurement via local firms. “
The event encouraged many comments from the delegates through an'interactive' session at the end of each talk with delegates asking questions and sharing their experiences of doing business with the Council.
FSB member, Mr Michael McGuinness of James S Graham & Co Ltd, Kingston-upon-Thames, said:
“The meeting was very well attended. The Council definitely put the message across that they wish to do business locally and are supporting Small and Medium Size Enterprises. I very much welcome their partnership approach and the transparency of their current procurement policy”.
For further information contact Rachel Willsher in the Procurement Team at Kingston Council.