Support to third sector organisations in Edinburgh is recognised in shortlist for prestigious procurement award
A significant collaboration between the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) and the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership and its partners, has been recognised for its outcome-focused support towards small businesses, by being shortlisted in this year’s GO Awards Scotland – recognising excellence in Procurement.
The Procurement as part of Thrive Edinburgh’s ‘Get Help When Needed’ initiative, has helped 12 providers (10 of which are smaller enterprises) to successfully secure business funding to provide innovative and supportive Mental Health Services to people across Edinburgh.
Linda Irvine-Fitzpatrick, Strategic Programme Manager (Mental Health and Wellbeing) for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, explains more.
“Poor mental Health is a real and lived experience for many. We wanted to ensure that increased funding would be used to reach the greatest volume of Edinburgh citizens, so they could get the right help when they needed it. Having a breadth of trusted providers helps direct a diverse range of needs.”
Paula Deegan, Category Delivery Lead in the City of Edinburgh Council procurement team explains,
“In Procurement we talk about ‘the Power of Procurement’. It recognises the ‘added value’ in securing contracts, above and beyond the supply of a service. Whether it be the security of a longer term contract that can help a smaller business grow (helping the local economy), or understanding opportunities for supported businesses (those that employ and support those who may be disadvantaged), to bid for and win business, that would benefit those providing the service as well as those receiving it.
“However, we are mindful that for smaller organisations, the idea of competing for public sector contracts can feel overwhelming. This is why we worked with Thrive teams, the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC), and Partnership4Procurement to provide training and support for organisations to be ‘bid ready’. We helped them understand more about the upcoming tender, our vision and aims, and educating attendees about the ins and outs of public sector procurement in order to help ensure equity of access to bid.”
The Council procurement teams have also been shortlisted for a second award at this year’s event in recognition of the significant supply chain efforts during the pandemic in the supply of PPE to the city’s essential teams, services and locations.
The GO Awards take place on 3 March in Glasgow. Good luck to our Thrive and Council Procurement teams in their nominations.