Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
£11.4 billion on small and medium sized enterprises
The data shows that 26.1 per cent of government spend went to SMEs, with 10.3 per cent spent directly and 15.8 per cent indirectly – meeting the target set in 2010 that targeted 25 per cent of government procurement spend to be with SMEs by the end of the current Parliament.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said: “I am so pleased that our reforms have ensured that innovative SMEs benefited from £11.4 billion of business last year alone. Over a quarter of our spend now goes to SMEs but we know there’s much more to do, and these new reforms show just how determined we are to finish the job.”
New legislation coming into force means that everyone in the supply chain must comply with 30 day payment terms, including suppliers and sub-contractors, and that public bodies must publish an annual late payment report, making their accountability more transparent. It will also ensure that the bidding process is simpler across the wider public sector, with complex forms, such as Pre-Qualification Questionnaires, being abolished for low value contracts, therefore making the procurement process for public sector contracts quicker.
Latest News
26/04/2024 - 12:12
New planning powers come into effect today giving local councils more tools to hold rogue developers to account as part of the government’s Levelling-up and Regeneration Act.
26/04/2024 - 11:13
Sport England has published a report which reveals a long-term increase in activity levels among adults, but also highlights further action is need
25/04/2024 - 12:28
The Welsh government will work with councils to set out a three-phase plan to implement a 20mph limit.
25/04/2024 - 11:56
£11 million of grant funding has been confirmed for public sector bodies in Scotland.
25/04/2024 - 10:32
The Labour Party has announced that it would renationalise most passenger rail services within five years.
Company Focus
Located in Bromley, Japanese Knotweed Eradication Ltd has been providing solutions in the treatment and removal of Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia Japonica) for over a decade. During this time we have mastered a repertoire of methods, from herbicidal treatments to landscaping solutions, tailored to address the unique challenges our clients face with this pervasive weed.
Event Diary
UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend in the industry calendar for Government departments and local authorities.
The multi-award-winning UK Construction Week (UKCW), is the UK’s biggest trade event for the built environment that connects the whole supply chain to be the catalyst for growth and positive change in the industry.
Supplier Profiles
At GeoEnergy Design, we're on a mission to disrupt the traditional way heating and cooling ha
Latest Features
Professor Harith Alani, director of the Knowledge Management Institute at the Open University explains how AI can be used for good and bad.
Alex Lawrence, head of health & social care, techUK sets out techUK’s Five Point Plan for CareTech.
