Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
Paul KeeganDeputy Director
UK online for business
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
• why SMEs are so important
– economic
– social
• the need to invest
• in ICT
• in training
• a unique opportunity – and threat
• the benefits of ICT to SMEs …
• … and to the local economy – 2 + 2 = 5
• how UK online for business intends to support you
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
SMEs and the South East Economy
630,000 businesses in South East58.4 % of all employees in SMEs
49.2% of turnover by SMEs
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
Local Government employs one tenth of the country’s workforce
Every minute council officers spend £200,000 on goods and services + £20,000 on administration
£25 billion per annum in England and Wales
£2.5 billion on transactions
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
800,000 firms currently supply goods and services to Local Authorities
Many are not e-enabled
Many only supply locally
All Local Authority purchasing to take advantage of e-procurement by 2005
Significant risk to supplier SME’s
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
a significant opportunity to invest in ICT with a real and compelling business case
non e-enabled suppliers WILL be excluded
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
The benefits of ICT to SMEs
• ability to supply LAs – and other organisations requiring e-procurement
• automated processes free staff for value-adding activities
• improved cashflow
• enhanced customer service
• lower costs – reduced stock levels etc
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
The multiplier effect in the local economy 2 + 2 = 5
• as firms invest in ICT, local trading becomes more efficient• repetitive administration jobs replaced by value-adding jobs• skilled workforce attracts firms to area• ICT support firms develop – and then win business in neighbouring
LAs• increased competition drives efficiency and lowers prices – stronger
local firms win against weaker firms in other areas
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
Not simply economic benefits
small businesses increase opportunities for groups that are otherwise disadvantaged or excluded
• “discrimination or disadvantage is one of the factors influencing some members of ethnic minorities to set up in businesses.”
SBS Small Firms : Big Business
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
The Opportunity for UKon4b• To help ensure that the businesses involved can
continue to do business with the LAs when they go live with e-Procurement
• To use the e-Procurement agenda as a driver for greater adoption of ICT by businesses and its fuller integration within their business process to increase productivity and competitiveness
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
UKon4b as a knowledge provider • UKon4b has the content and collateral
– which can help lever the resources to assist affected SMEs not only to access the e-procurement opportunity
– but also appreciate and take advantage of the wider competitive advantage offered by the investment in ICT
• Web based resource to be created by UKon4b for all channels including a “roadmap” written by our industry partners for the SME supplier adopter highlighting all the benefits of ICT investment and spelling out the harsh alternative.Target date July 2003
Slough Borough Council Marketplace Event Thursday 5th June 2003 Thames Valley Athletics Centre
Paul Keegan UK online for business
020 7 215 1623
