Following the success of the Rail Opportunities International Meet-the-Buyer that took place late last year, UKTI East Midlands will be hosting another of these events on Thursday 16th February 2012, at Pride Park Stadium in Derby.

The event is intended to give East Midlands based rail suppliers the opportunity to meet with buyers and technical teams from international rail companies to uncover business opportunities and the possibilities for working together.

The last event saw buyers from Renfe, The Jardine Engineering Corporation, Hitachi, Transfesa, Achilles, Pullman Projects, Voestalpine, ESG and others were represented to talk with East Midlands companies. A number of these companies are returning for the second event, and we are currently working with other companies looking at their interests in attending again on the 16th.

The event is completely free of charge to attend for East Midlands based Rail Suppliers. For more information and to book click here

Please note this event is not organised or run by Ocurem, and Ocurem are not responsible for this event.

The event will include presentations of real business opportunities, exhibitions of buyers and support organisations, and a networking lunch.

Agenda

Full presentation and speaker details to be announced in January.

8.30 am to 9.30 am

Registration and networking.

9.30 am to 11.00 am

Session 1 : Nuclear Market – The Strategic Overview.

11.00 am to 11.30am

Coffee – Exhibition and networking.

11.30 am to 12.50 pm

Session 2 - Tier 1 and 2 buying organisations presentations.

12.50 pm to 2.15 pm

Lunch – Exhibition, networking and opportunities for one to one meetings.

2.15 pm to 3.45 pm

Session 3 – Tier 1 and 2 buying organisation presentations.

3.45 pm

End of presentations and further newtorking/exhibition opportunities

To register to attend click here

Please note this event is not organised or run by Ocurem and therefore Ocurem are not responsible for this event.

I’m thinking of working with 2 other companies to bid as a consortia for some tendering work, do you think it’s a good idea and what should I be aware of before i go ahead?

Answer

Consortia’s work well when each of the parties in the proposed consortia complement each other, so in your case you would want companies which aren’t in direct competition.

Other aspects to consider is who is going to organise and manage, and also some of the other things to consider include do they all have a similiar outlook to my company? Do they share the same values and beliefs about customers, and how customers are treated?

When considering a consortia, you should estimate the length of planning you think that you will need (eg 30 hours) then DOUBLE it to be realistic and to ensure that the things that you find during the planning are explored and agreed prior to going ahead.

Jones Bros is hosting a ‘meet the buyer’ event, having been named among the principal suppliers for a wind farm in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Construction of the six-turbine Pentland Road wind farm on the Isle of Lewis is due to get under way in early spring. The project should be fully commissioned in January 2013.

Jones Bros will be first on site, having secured the civil engineering works contract.
The company will be calling on local resources to help with the project and will host a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event at the Cabarfeidh Hotel in Stornoway from 2 – 8 pm on Wednesday 1st February
.
Jones Bros will be using the event to call on local resources to help with the project.
Contracts director John Dielhof said: “If you are able to assist with any of the works listed below, and would like to register your interest in providing services, please come along to the event.

“Company representatives will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.”
Opportunities for suppliers and contractors to assist Jones Bros may be through the following elements of the contract:

• Ecological advisors

• Blasting, drilling and crushing contractors to work in the borrowpits to produce the aggregates for road works.

• Hiring of local plant to assist in the construction of access tracks and hardstandings – Excavators, hydraulic breakers, dumpers and blades

• Hiring of local equipment including accommodation units, pumps, generators, etc.

• Hiring of local labour & JCB to undertake miscellaneous tasks such as highway widening and drainage

• Minor fencing works

• Security cover

• Provision of all types of materials – builder’s merchants, geotextiles, fuel oil distributors and drainage goods suppliers.

• Supply of aggregates for initial section of tracks.

• Utilising of local accommodation facilities and caterers for site supervisory staff

If you are unable to attend, but would like further information, email inverness@jones-bros.com.

Pentland Road wind farm firector Peter Crone said: “We are very much looking forward to seeing this project constructed on Barvas Moor during the course of this year.
“On behalf of the project company I would like to thank the 600 or more crofting families who have supported this scheme throughout its development, and we particularly thank that Stornoway Trust, whose unwavering support over many years has made this development possible.”

I’ve got a tender at the moment which has a word count on it, how can I get my message across in less than 400 words? I’m struggling to put it together so that it makes sense!

Answer:

Word count can be tricky when writing bid responses, so it’s a bit like an exam question they will only mark what you put in your response. It may help to really focus on the key messages that you want to get across. The key is making sure that every single word means something and is relevant! Use consistent language ie “we” or “company name” throughout and keep it punchy, making sure that you do actually answer their question

Taking place on Thursday 26th January at the Fusiliers Museum, this lunchtime event will enable businesses to meet representatives from different departments within Bury Council’s Strategic Procurement team. Various representatives will be on-hand to provide advice and information, including: architects for buildings maintenance and construction contracts, engineers from the works/highways department, and individuals responsible for adult care and children’s services.

The event has been developed and led by a steering group consisting of private sector representatives, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Bury Council, to help businesses in Bury to understand what procurement opportunities are available with the Council and how the tendering process works. There will also be the opportunity to learn about the Council’s e-tendering system, The Chest.

Commenting on the event, Michelle Geoghegan, Bury Local Policy Manager at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “Through our consultations with member businesses in Bury, the Chamber has learnt that tendering for public sector contracts has been an issue for a number of firms in the past, and in particular, gaining access to the individuals responsible for procurement, as well as getting to grips with the tendering process itself. Through working with public sector organisations, such as Bury Council, we are hoping to make the process easier and more accessible for businesses and raise awareness of the opportunities that are open to them.”

The event takes place on Thursday 26th January 2012 from 11.30am-2.30pm at Fusiliers Museum, Moss Street, Bury, BL9 0DF.

Specific tendering opportunities for 2012/3 include:
* ICT (maintenance and support – specific systems for schools)
* Environmental (waste/graffiti removal)
* Building Construction Materials
* Transport (Home to school and school swimming)
* Facilities Management (print and design/PAT testing/window cleaning)
* Works (individual projects/minor repairs)
* Catering (drinks/greengrocery/prepared produce/catering services)
* Social Care (domiciliary care)

Please note this event is not being run by Ocurem, and Ocurem are not responsible for this event.

The Contract Notice and Pre Qualification Questionnaire will be launched during
week commencing 16th January 2012, selected candidates will receive an Invitation
to Tender (ITT) in March and framework award will take place in early June 2012.
We would welcome all experienced operators within this sector to the event. To
reserve a place please email: realliesgasservicing@procure-plus.com

Ocurem are not running this event, and are not responsible for this event

Tuesday the 24th of January 2012-Bangor City Football Club, Nantporth Stadium, Holyhead Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2HQ    

Watkin Jones Group will commence work on the new Asda development in Bangor city centre during January 2012. The project will see the development of a brand new Asda store at Deiniol Road, Bangor, for the developers Deiniol Developments Ltd.

The project involves the demolition of the existing Farrar Road Football Ground, including major earthworks, retaining walls (stone faced), reinforced concrete and timber criblock.

It also involves the construction of a new 25,000sq ft Asda Foodstore comprising piled foundation, structural steel frame, concrete floor slab, metal deck, roof and walls with patent glazed shop front, blockwork, internal walls with associated mechanical and electrical installation and painting.

The scheme also involves all associated external works, access roads, footpaths, concrete yards, acoustic, security and landscaping.   Watkin Jones Group wishes to raise awareness of potential opportunities which they are looking to sub-contract within the project.

To this end a Meet the Buyer event is being jointly organised by the Welsh Government’s Supplier Development Service and ConstructionSkills who will also be present on the day.

The following sub-contracting opportunities have been identified:

Steelwork – Cladding – Roofing – Slate walling – Stone masonry – Concrete flooring – Supply of reinforced concrete – Brickwork – Block work – Timber criblock walling – Landscaping -Tarmac – Pipework – Escape stairs – Handrails – White lining – Electrical installation – External lighting – Security – Acoustic.

Please note that businesses holding CSCS cards, insurances, and with relevant experience will be given preference to attend this event.

In order to declare your interest, you should complete and return the Supplier Information form which can be obtained by contacting derwenna.bridle@menterabusnes.co.uk   asap

You will then be informed if your business meets Watkin Jones Group’s minimum quality expectations. If so, you will be directly invited to the event, and given a 20 minute appointment.

Only those businesses who have completed and returned the Supplier Information form and been given a direct invitation to the event, should attend.

For further information please contact Derwenna Bridle on 01248 672610 or derwenna.bridle@menterabusnes.co.uk

Please note this event is not organised or run by Ocurem and therefore Ocurem are not responsible for this event.

How do I decide if a bid is right for my company to submit a response to? I’ve looked at quite a few bids and it’s not exactly easy to understand which is right for my company to bid for Please help!

This is a great question – firstly look at what the bid entails and ask yourself is this your core business and can you provide the goods or services? Then have a look at the questions and decide if you have enough evidence to support your submission.

When you have reviewed what they are asking for, and how you are going to demonstrate this, you should then be able to determine if this bid is suitable for you.

Location: BVSC, The Centre for Voluntary Action, 138 Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DR

This is a free of charge event

Organiser: Midland Heart with support from SEWM

Midland Heart is holding a ‘Meet the Buyer’ Open day for businesses including charities and social enterprises interested in tendering for the following services:

• Grounds maintenance
• Window cleaning
• Communal cleaning services

At this event, vendors can find out more about Midland Heart’s forthcoming environmental services contract, due to be tendered in February 2012, the procurement process and the type of information that will be required from suppliers.

Places will be allocated at this event on a first come, first served basis.

For further details and to reserve your place, please call SEWM on 0845 450 7515.

This event is NOT being run or organised by Ocurem and Ocurem are not responsible for any part of this event.