Bid for Success

- Published: 26 November, 2007

The government and the NHS spend £1.8bn on food each year and yet little more than half procured is British meaning there is significant potential for UK suppliers to supply to this sector.

But for many the complex and bureaucratic process of tendering for public sector business can seem like a minefield Help is now at hand with the Meat Trades Journal conference which will give delegates the know-how and opportunity to tap into this sector.

With speakers from across the industry, the Bid for Success conference, which will be held on 5 March 2008 in Warwick will highlight all the latest trends in public sector procurement, covering everything from the latest government policy on tendering, to how to secure business contracts.

Speakers lined up for the conference include Nigel Watson, business manager for the NHS supply chain, Mike Duckett, catering manager for the Royal Brompton Hospital and Peter Allen, managing director of Aubrey Allen.

The conference will cover the nuts and bolts knowledge on securing a valuable public sector contract including where you will find such business tendered, unravelling the jargon used in tender advertisements and documents and how you can ensure that you win contracts that will boost your profits.

You will also hear case studies on how a partnership approach can work. Mike Duckett, catering manager for the Royal Brompton Hosiptal and Roy Cruise, sales manager of his supplier Middlesex Meats will be talking about how they made their joint venture a success.

If you are a small supplier it might be worth setting up a local hub which will help you and other food producers supply medium size contracts. Bradshaw Bros and Stuart Thomson, associate director for English Farming & Food Partnerships, will talk about how this can be done successfully.

Ed Bedington, editor of MTJ, said: "This is a sector which is growing in importance all the time. If you're looking for an opportunity to find out just how to tap into this, then our conference is a must."

For further information or to make a booking please call Helen Law on 01293 846587 or email helen.law@william-reed.co,uk