Small and Medium Business Hub
Centralised guidance for SMEs and departments on government’s commitment to support start-ups and small businesses via government procurement, and commit to paying them on time.
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- Published
- 28 September 2020
- Last updated
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24
11MarchApril20262023— See all updates
How we are backing your businessOverview
ThroughGovernment Backinghas youra business:commitment ourto planobtain value for smallmoney and medium-sizedsupport small businesses, weand arestart-ups deliveringthrough theprocurement. mostWe comprehensiveunderstand packagethe ofchallenges supportand barriers, especially for smallsmaller firms, and medium-sizedare enterprisescommitted (SMEs)to intackling athem. generation.
GrowthWe iswant thisto government’stackle numberobstacles onethat missionthey face when supplying or contracting with government departments and SMEsagencies.
How are we supporting the enginecommitment?
Paying room.suppliers Ouron plantime
Government ishas toa maketarget theof UKpaying the90% bestof placeits invoices within 5 days, and all of them within 30 days, to startensure we pay our suppliers on time. Each department reports their payment performance progress and growit has been listed within ‘How are the central departments supporting SMEs?’ (below).
Since 1 September 2019, any organisation that bids for a business,central withgovernment contract in excess of £5 million a cultureyear thatneeds supportsto entrepreneurshipdemonstrate it has effective payment systems in everyplace communityto andensure higha street.reliable supply chain.
We’reAs delivering:
apartofthis,governmentsignificanthaslegislationsetastandardof95%ofallsupplychaininvoicesbelatepaidpaymentswithinin60overdays25foryears,organisationsgivingwhothewantUKtothedostrongestbusinesslegalwithframeworkgovernment.onSupplierslatewhopaymentsdoinnotcomplywith- a
PromptnewPaymentBusinessstandardGrowthcouldServicebepreventedfromwinninggovernmentcontracts.Thiswillhelpensuregoodpaymentpracticegetspasseddownsmallfindingsubcontractors.IncreasingadvicevisibilityoftenderscontractsRegisterincludingwithaContractsFindertokeepupdatedonanddigitalupcomingoffercontracts–worthBusiness.gov.uk,overending£12,500withgovernmentand changeitsofagencies.YoupreviouscangovernmentusebusinessContractssupportFinderprogrammesto:searchforcontractopportunitiesindifferentsectors- a
findpackageoutwhat’scomingupinthefuture lookupdetailsprevioustailoredtenderstoandhighcontracts
Fromstreets1toJanuarymake2021,ityoueasierwillforalsoSMEsbeableuseupFindshop,arangingTenderfromtoaviewnewpubliclicensingprocurementframeworknoticespublishedbyUKcontractingauthorities.Youwillstillbeableusefundingexistingforportalsplaces - a
suchmassiveas£4ContractsbillionFinder,financeMODboostDefencetoContractsincreaseOnline,accessPublictoContractsfinanceScotland,forSell2Walesentrepreneursand–eTendersNIto inspireviewthelownextvaluegenerationoroflocationsmallspecificbusinessnotices.Helpingowners,strengthenmakeprocurementstheandUKreclaimthemoniesbestowedThePublicplaceProcurementtoReviewstartService(PPRS)sitswithintheCabinetOfficeallowsagovernmentbusiness,suppliersand buildpotentialagovernmentculturesuppliersthattocelebratesraiseandconcernschampionsanonymouslyentrepreneurs
WeIf alsoyou committedhave a concern you’d like to makingraise SMEsabout a nationalprocurement priority,process ensuringor theya haveproblem with payment on a fairpublic opportunitycontract you can let them know by sending an email to winpublicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, publicand contractsthey will investigate for you.
PPRS report on the trends in the issues raised, and settingmakes ambitiousrecommendations SMEon targetshow forto eachimprove. They department.also publish monthly results from their investigations.
Working with SMEs and removing barriers
GovernmentThe isSME committedadvisory topanel, drivingmade economicup growthof entrepreneurs and strengtheningleading supplybusiness chainsfigures byboasting givinga Smallwide range of experience, is working with the government to remove barriers and Medium-sizedincrease Enterprisesspend (SMEs)in goods and voluntary,services communitywith small and socialmedium-sized enterprisesenterprises. (VCSEs)The apanel fairwas chanceformed atin publicNovember contracts.
How2016 and are wecurrently supportinglooking theat commitment?
GovernmentWorking Targetswith departments and Actionmonitoring Plansdelivery
AllThe Cabinet Office Small Business team works with the departments and external stakeholders to:
captureandcontinuetoimprovethequalityofspend(includingdataoverseeexecutivetheagenciesdevelopment,publicationdeliverypublicofbodiesSME(NDPBs))ActionmustPlansensureseteffectiveaperformancethreemanagementyearandtargetsharingforofdirectbestspendpracticewithonSMEs reportacrossresultsdepartmentsensureannually.effectiveDepartmentsstakeholdercanengagementalsowithvoluntarilySMEs,setworkingtargetswithfor,sectorandbodies,reporttheon,SMEtheiradvisoryindirectpanelspendandintheadditionCrowntoRepresentativedirectforspend.SMEs
How Seeare PPNthe 001central (PDF,departments 118KB)supporting SMEs?
Departments have appointed SME Champions to lead on supporting SMEs. They have also developcreated and publish their own individual departmentalplan. Action Plan. Each plan details the steps they plan to take to make it easier to do business, how to become a supplier, and theirwhat latestthey are achieving to increase spend with SMEs. SMEs.
Cabinet Office - SME Action Plan
Crown Commercial Service - SME Action Plan
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory - SME Action Plan
Department for Digital,Business, Culture,Energy Media & SportIndustrial Strategy - SME Action Plan
Department for EnergyDigital, SecurityCulture, andMedia Net& ZeroSport - SME Action Plan
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - SME Action Plan
Department for Education - SME Action Plan
Department for Business and Trade - SME Action Plan
Department of Health and Social Care - SME Action Plan
Department for Science Innovation and Technology - SME Action Plan
Department for Transport - SME Action Plan
Department for Work and Pensions - SME Action Plan
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - SME Action Plan
HM Revenue and Customs - SME Action Plan
Ministry of Defence - SME Action Plan
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - SME Action Plan
Ministry of Justice - SME Action Plan
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority - SME Action Plan
UKHow Exportdo Financewe -measure SME Action Plan
SME Crownspend Representativedata
The Smallgovernment Businesswants Crownsmall Representativeand ismedium onesized ofenterprises ato networkbenefit offrom Crowncentral Representatives and, alongside our VCSE Crown Representative, is focused on helping the government inprocurement itsspend, engagementeither withdirectly specificor sectors.indirectly Thevia main aim of the rolesupply ischain.
Reports to lead on thethis overallaspiration, relationshipCentral between the government andspend smallwith businesses,SMEs, makingare surepublished theon governmentGOV.UK getson thean bestannual value from small business and small businesses have the best possible opportunity to work with the government. basis.
VCSECase organisationsstudies
AllDepartments centralhave governmenta departmentsnumber (includingof executivecase agenciesstudies andabout non-departmentalhow publicthey bodiesare (NDPBs))working a two year target for direct spend with VCSEsSMEs, and reportmaking resultsit annually.easier Forfor furthersmall informationbusinesses onto howwin thegovernment Governmentand ispublic supportingsector VCSEcontracts.
Crown organisationsCommercial pleaseService visit1, theCrown VCSECommercial BusinessService Hub. 2
Paying
Department suppliersfor on timeEducation
GovernmentDepartment hasfor aTransport
Helpful 90%Links
Minister of itsstate invoices- withinJeremy 5 days, and all of them within 30 days, to ensure we pay our suppliers on time.Quin
SinceSmall 1Business SeptemberCommissioner 2019,- anyAn organisationindependent thatpublic bidsbody forset aup centralby government contractunder inthe excessEnterprise ofAct £52016 million a year needs to demonstratetackle itlate haspayment effectiveand unfavourable payment systemspractices in placethe toprivate ensure a reliable supply chain.sector
AsSME aCrown partrepresentative of- this,Martin theTraynor
Upcoming governmentdeals haswith setCCS a- standardFramework ofopportunities 95% of all supply chain invoices to bejoin paidand withinwin 60government dayswork
Social forValue - organisationsInformation whoand wantguidance toon dothe businessSocial withValue government.Act
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SME: couldSelling beto preventedGovernment fromGuide winning- government contracts. This willguide helpprovides ensureadvice goodfor paymentsmall practicesand aremedium passedsized downenterprises to(SMEs) smallon subcontractors.
Raisinghow concernsto aboutbid poorfor public procurement practice and reclaimwin moniesgovernment owed
The PublicSourcing Procurement Review ServicePlaybook (PPRS)- allowsGovernment governmentguidance supplierson andservice potentialdelivery, governmentincluding suppliersoutsourcing, toinsourcing, raisemixed concernseconomy anonymouslysourcing aboutand potentially poor public sector procurement practice.contracting
IfThe youConsultancy havePlaybook a- concernGovernment aboutguidance aon procurementhow processto orcommission aand problemengage with paymentconsultants onmore aeffectively, publicachieving contract,better yououtcomes, canbetter letvalue usfor knowmoney by submitting this form and theyimproved willCivil investigateService forcapability you.
PPRSthrough report on the trendstransfer inof theknowledge issues raised, and makesskills
Procurement recommendationsPolicy onNotes how- toGuidance improve.on Theybest alsopractice publishfor resultsprocurement fromfor theirpublic investigations.
Increasingsector visibilityorganisations, oftogether tenderswith andsupporting contracts
YouConsortia canguidance use- Findcoming asoon. TenderWhen topublished viewthis publicguide procurementwill noticesgive publishedsupport byon UKbidding contractingfor authorities. Public RegisterProcurement opportunities as a suppliergroup afterof signingsuppliers in anda complete your supplier information to be able to bid for contracts.Consortium
HelpfulSocial LinksMedia
SMEKeep Crownup representativeto -date Shirleyby Cooperfollowing OBE (Linkedin) accounts:
Information
SME andCrown guidance for suppliersRepresentative
Small -Business GuidanceCommissioner and@SB_Commissioner
Public videos for suppliers to support doing business under the Procurement ActReview 2023.
UpcomingService deals with CCS@govPPRS
Contact capability through the transfer of knowledge and skillsus
ProcurementFor Policyqueries Notesrelating -to Guidancethe onwork bestof practicesthe forSmall procurementBusiness forTeam, publicemail sector organisations, together with supporting documentationsmallbusinessteam@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Updates to this page
Last updated 24
-
Replaced body text with new version
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Update history
2026-03-24 10:00
Replaced body text with new version
2023-04-11 16:18
Updated the case studies section to include an additional link to Crown Commercial Case Studies
2023-04-05 09:19
Updated the link for the following URL: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport – SME Action Plan
2023-03-23 15:34
Updated the Helpful link entry for Minister of State to Jeremy Quin
2023-03-23 10:27
Updated the following text to reflect the updated figure of £12,500: Register with Contracts Finder to keep updated on new and upcoming contracts worth over £10,000 with the government and its agencies
2023-03-13 14:42
Updated to reflect the change from Department for International Trade to Department for Business and Trade
2023-01-31 11:21
Added link to Cabinet Office – SME Action Plan.Updated the links to Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – SME Action Plan, Department for Transport – SME Action Plan, Home Office – SME Action Plan
2023-01-26 11:04
Added link to latest Home Office SME action plan.
2023-01-26 09:00
Updated the section ‘How are the central departments supporting SMEs?’ to include a link to the page ‘Cabinet Office Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Action Plan’
Update history
2026-03-24 10:00
Replaced body text with new version
2023-04-11 16:18
Updated the case studies section to include an additional link to Crown Commercial Case Studies
2023-04-05 09:19
Updated the link for the following URL: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport – SME Action Plan
2023-03-23 15:34
Updated the Helpful link entry for Minister of State to Jeremy Quin
2023-03-23 10:27
Updated the following text to reflect the updated figure of £12,500: Register with Contracts Finder to keep updated on new and upcoming contracts worth over £10,000 with the government and its agencies
2023-03-13 14:42
Updated to reflect the change from Department for International Trade to Department for Business and Trade
2023-01-31 11:21
Added link to Cabinet Office – SME Action Plan.Updated the links to Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – SME Action Plan, Department for Transport – SME Action Plan, Home Office – SME Action Plan
2023-01-26 11:04
Added link to latest Home Office SME action plan.
2023-01-26 09:00
Updated the section ‘How are the central departments supporting SMEs?’ to include a link to the page ‘Cabinet Office Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Action Plan’