Welcome to the Keystone Column. This week we see at how large contract growth can transform SMEs, consider the benefits of SMEs for graduates choosing a career and look at a remarkable story on how an investment in renewable energy can transform a community. As usual we conclude with our weekly list of current Irish public tenders.
Business Stories
What does your ideal company look like?
The New Year is a time when many reflect on their professional development and evaluate their goals. This article from Procurious is therefore rather timely. Many graduates embarking on the world of work think their ideal company is a large, corporate company, with great offices. But is this the best route to fast track success?
Focusing on social cohesion and culture, the author hones in on the fact that with numerous levels of communication and various approval structures, larger organisations are not perceived to be as agile and responsive as some smaller entities. Instead, the benefits of working within an SME include the ability to build relationships across all levels with direct access to your colleagues. Noting that there is more opportunity to broaden your skill set with exposure to broader roles, the author makes an interesting case for graduates to consider SMEs as a place where they can make a real impact daily, and be recognised for it.
Interested Irish graduates would do well to consider InterTradeIreland’s FUSION programme which supports SMEs seeking to innovate by helping to fund a high calibre science, engineering or technology graduate and partnering them with a third level institution with specific expertise.. Not only do they part-fund the graduate’s salary for a year to eighteen months, the graduate also receives a diploma in business and management. More details for interested SMEs and graduates are here.
Interesting Trends – Grow Your Business with Public Contracts
There are eight key ways to drive business growth.
- Work harder – many businesses are already doing this.
- Get a bank loan– access to credit remains an issue for SMEs.
- Government funding– this can be slow, the process competitive and it can cost equity.
- Develop a new line of business – this requires cash and/or new staff.
- Hire new staff– If affordable and well planned, this can help drive growth plans.
- Equity investment & alternative funding sources – an option for companies but often at a premium.
- Target growth through large contracts –many businesses are unsure how to do this.
- Collaborate with others– Ireland’s peculiar obsession with secrecy means that consortiums and enhanced cooperation are much rarer here than in other EU states.
Large contract growth through government contracts is in the interest of every business either on their own or in a consortium. The public contracts market in Ireland is worth over €9bn per annum. With capital spending, it significantly exceeds this. There are 280,000 companies in Ireland and yet most of this work is won by less than 3,000 companies.
Companies should consider the following two questions:
- Are you good at what you do and can you back this up?
- Have you considered the growth that cash-flow from a large public contract can drive?
There are mediocre performers winning work because most businesses do not try to win contracts or they compete poorly and half-heartedly. Public buyers want to work with SMEs. They are often more agile, more innovative and more accessible than multinationals. The owners are more invested in ensuring a good outcome.
So: if not you, then who? and if not now, then when? SMEs interested in growing their business through large contract growth can find out more information here.
Innovation – Güssing, Austria Powered Entirely By Renewable Energy
The small town of Güssing in Austria, which had no significant industry or trade business, is now thriving thanks to local renewable resources according to this piece on cleantechnica.com. With an €8.1 million annual fossil fuel bill, town leaders realised that this money could stay in the local economy if they could reduce their energy consumption and produce their own energy. By developing a district-wide heating system, and with government assistance to install a biomass power plant, this was achieved. Today, Güssing has 60 new companies, 1,500 new jobs, and annual revenues of €17 million due to energy sales, all resulting from the growth of the renewable energy sector!
New public procurement tenders this week
Visit the Keystone website to view our take on the 500+ active public procurement opportunities with more than five days until their deadline. There are a vast range of services, supplies and construction related to public procurement opportunities in the following sectors (there are many more sectors than the sample list below):
- Construction and related trades,
- Professional & Advisory Services,
- PR, Media, Advertising and related,
- ICT supplies and services,
- Training,
- Property & facilities management,
- Vehicle & automotive,
- Catering and related services,
- Cleaning and related services,
- Waste Management,
- Maintenance and related services,
- Horticultural supplies & services,
- Research & environmental monitoring,
- Printing, office supplies and related services,
- Trades,
- Medical and scientific research, supplies and services,
- A vast range of other services and supplies.
Businesses interested in any of these public procurement opportunities that are unsure of how they can follow-up on these tenders can contact Keystone at any stage. We would be happy to discuss your needs and where they may fit with your business growth plans. These public procurement opportunities are sources of business growth and innovation for companies across the country.
Keystone E-Tenders Report Open YTD as at 1201 (by date of publication)
Keystone E-Tenders Report Open YTD as at 1201 (by sector)
Please note, e-tenders often has public procurement opportunities incorrectly categorised so people relying on e-tender alerts could easily miss out on opportunities if they are dependent on it. E-tenders is only as reliable as the people inputting tenders and mistakes are made very frequently. The Keystone Column includes all live tenders posted on e-tenders since January 4th 2016 that have five or more days until their deadline as at January 12th 2017.
