Ethos Public Relations Manchester

Jumping through hoops?

by Debbie

Ethos public relations has been involved in quite a few new business pitches this year and there is quite a staggering difference between the ways in which organisations ask for information about prospective suppliers.

We have come, rather sadly, to the conclusion, that the weightier the tender documentation, the less likely we are, as an SME, to get the business. I know that public sector tenders are supposed to be fair, transparent and open blah, blah, blah but quite frankly sometimes I wonder if everything they ask for is necessary, or more importantly ever considered.

Do people actually read the reams and reams of pointless information they request?

Of course the blood, sweat and tears is worth it when we are successful in our new business bid - but I really think that the public sector really needs to make their tender processes less complicated and work with rather than against SME's. Apparently, the government has requested this and apparently the public sector has made it easier. But sometimes it is hard to see how.

Maybe tenderers could take a leaf out of our book...

When we are looking for contractors, we request references, meet them to see they are nice people, look at past examples of their work and check they are financially sound. If the price is right we work with them. It's not rocket science and we don't ask for them to jump through hoops before we work with them!!

Posted at 2:58pm on 19^th October 2009