Overview of selling to government

What opportunities are available?

All businesses (including small and medium-sized enterprises) have a wide range of opportunities to sell to public sector organisations. Whether you sell stationery, office furniture, medical supplies, IT equipment, catering services, training courses or other services, there's likely to be a market for your product or service within government. There are also opportunities for subcontractors to benefit from high-value public sector contracts that have been won by other, larger businesses.

Potential customers could include:

• central government departments and agencies
• devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• local authorities
• the National Health Service
• police service
• armed forces
• universities
• colleges
• prisons

Key central government departments that purchase from businesses include HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the Department for Transport, Communities and Local Government, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS).

Agencies range from HMRC to Jobcentre Plus and the Identity & Passport Service.

Local authorities can also be a good source of orders for small and medium-sized businesses.

Many of these organisations have booklets or websites which set out their specific needs and explain how you can become a supplier.

Find UK-wide contract opportunities on the Supply2.gov.uk website (registration required) - Opens in a new window.

You should also remember that acting as a subcontractor to a large company which has won a high-value contract can be an effective way of getting government orders.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• What opportunities are available?
• Where to find out about contracts
• The procurement process
• Procurement regulations for public sector contracts
• The role of e-procurement
• Resolving public sector tendering problems

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