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Partnership to provide a boost for regional SMEs

A new series of workshops are taking place across the North East to help SMEs increase their turnover and reshape their environmental policies.

Teesside University is continuing its successful partnership with the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) to run the free “Increasing Your Turnover” workshops.

Five sessions will take place and SMEs can chose which workshop to attend from the following:

• Northumberland - 24 March 2015
• Hartlepool - 15 April 2015
• Newcastle - 16 April 2015
• Sunderland - 21 April 2015
• Durham - 23 April 2015

The workshops are being held in response to the Social Value Act and the 2015 Public Contract Regulations, which will create new opportunities for local businesses as the Government is determined to widen access to local suppliers.

It will take you step-by-step through the current issues and ensure that you are positioned to benefit from having the right environmental focus for your business - whether it’s simply to make cost savings, or shaping your business to help gain an edge when competing for work and showing that you are the right choice for potential customers.

The workshops will help you understand how the right approach to your environmental policy will make a key difference to your business. It includes templates and materials to help ensure you get your environmental policy right, and guidance to help you quickly understand how and where to make environmental issues really count in your business.

You will also be able to gain additional free support through the Resource Efficiency Pathways to Sustainable Growth Programme (REPS) programme*. Based at Teesside University, the REPS programme has supported 169 businesses in the North East region resulting in more than £4 million in savings, investment and new business generation for participant SMEs. Support includes in-depth consultancy and tailored programmes to help drive significant cost and carbon savings.

The “Increasing Your Turnover” workshops will be delivered by Garry Stone from B2B North, who is working closely with buyers and procurement teams as they implement the changes and seek new suppliers.

Sessions run from 9.00am to 1.30pm and include a networking lunch.

For more information, email reps@tees.ac.uk, or contact 01642 384418.

*This initiative is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013, and is open to eligible SMEs based in the North East.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Teesside University - REPS .