Throughout the tender process, Frameworx promoted the use of using local labour, SME’s and apprenticeships.
All contractors were made aware of this during the PQQ and ITT process.
CWH have been working with WSMBC (Westminster Small Minority Business Council) in order to fulfil this requirement for CityWest Homes and Westminster City Council along with CompeteFor which is a brand new advertising tool that was piloted by CityWest Homes and Westminster City Council and was launched by the London Development Agency. This gives the business community free and open access to contract opportunities generated by central and local government.
CompeteFor will allow the City Council to access a database with over 80,000 suppliers, over 25,000 of which are based in London, some of the benefits are detailed below:
- Matches buyers in the supply chain with potential suppliers and automates the shortlisting of bidders
- Increases the openness and transparency of the current processes
- Reduces advertising costs associated with procurement
- Provides the ability to target opportunities geographically by borough or region, or advertise nationally to a database of over 80,000 suppliers already registered on CompeteFor
- Provides the ability to increase the participation of small and minority businesses within the City Council’s supply chain –
- CompeteFor removes the current barriers and costs by allowing small and minority businesses to self-register their interest in supplying Westminster without having to provide evidence upfront
- Will provide Management Information on the number of small and minority businesses registered and the amount of business they have won
- Provides a tool that Westminster can request its first tier suppliers to use to advertise their own procurement activities to local businesses
Best practice recommendation
We suggest that for all construction works mini competitions a recommendation is made to the contractors for at least 1 apprentice and 1 SME or local business to be involved in your project or at least be able to tender for works.
The Frameworx suppliers are aware of this and will expect to see this request in each and every mini competition received.
Please see suggested wording you may want to include in your tender documentation:
- It is important to us that local labour and local SME companies are given the chance to work in and around their borough
- We therefore recommend that you work with us and our partners to deliver this and contribute to social regeneration
- Please give examples of how you currently work with local labour groups in the Borough and how you intend to encourage local labour and SME to gain work within your supply chain
Please do not hesitate to contact the companies below to find out more about their initiatives and to see if they can help you in delivering your social objectives:
WSMBC
t: 0207 9638548
f: +44 (0) 20 7563 3094
e: info@wsmbc.org.uk
http://www.wsmbc.org.uk/
London Apprenticeship Company
t: 0207 580 2255
http://www.londonapprenticeship.co.uk/
Launching Frameworx
CityWest Homes and Westminster Works are working closely with The London Apprenticeship Company who cover all sectors of the workforce and would be delighted to hear from all London boroughs regarding apprenticeships. The Frameworx suppliers also had a chance to meet with them at the Frameworx launch event held in London in October 2009.