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Get "bid-ready" here. It's worthwhile spending the time to gather all of your documents together. When you spot the right opportunity either on TenderTap or one of the other portals (see Registration with the right web sites), you'll be confident that you have all the background documentation in place.
Finance
Your credit rating will be checked once you submit your PQQ so don't leave anything to chance. You can check how your business stacks up for less than £20. You could google "business credit checks" and choose from one of the many companies offering this service.
Health and Safety Policies
Health and Safety need not be daunting – there is a wide range of support out there for you. Northumberland County Council leads the way in advice and guidance for Northumberland and if you contact the Procurement Centre, arrangements can be made for one-to-one informal advice relating to what is required for your business.
Access all the information you need as a small business here.
Click here to access a template health and safety policy.
Create and operate a Health and Safety policy from the Business Link website.
CHAS (The contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is a good idea for many businesses and is less expensive than you would think.
Constructionline
Environmental Policies
Looking after the environment is a key requirement for public sector organisations as they are often measured on their efforts by central government. If you wish to sell goods or services to the public sector then you will need to consider how you can demonstrate that your goods or service do not damage the environment. You’ll score extra points and maybe that competitive edge we are all searching for, if you can demonstrate how your activity benefits the environment.
Access all the information you need as a small business here.
Envirowise: developing an environmental policy
Click here to access a template environmental policy. (Richmond upon Thames Council)
Quality Management Statements
A good starting point for small businesses is the Small Business Standard published by the Chartered Quality Institute and is available free of charge as a download on www.thecqi.org
There is also guidance on Cobra on ISO Quality Standards, BIF 29 A Guide to ISO 9000 Quality Standards.
Information is also available from the highly successful handbook ISO 9001 for Small Businesses developed by ISO/TC 176, the ISO technical committee responsible for the ISO 9000 standards for quality management.
www.iso.org/iso/ims0404-quality.pdf
Template Quality Management Statement
Equality and Diversity
Proving you are a fair employer is moving up the agenda. You will be asked to comply with legislation according to your size in terms of the number of people you employ.
From the Acas website.
http://www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1051
The North East is pioneering the way in developing a Kite Mark Equality Standard.
http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/projects/standard/
Template Equality and Diversity Policy (Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council)
Click here for a general overview of the subject from Northumberland County Council http://pscm.northumberland.gov.uk/pls/portal92/docs/16983
Click here to access, as an example, Northumberland County Council’s current requirements of equality and diversity.
With thanks to Compete NorthEast and Business Link for assistance to develop this page.
Disclaimer: Whilst The Procurement Centre and Business Link seek to ensure that all information provided by it is up to date, accurate and complete, The Procurement Centre and Business Link shall not be liable for any loss, damage or costs whatsoever, resulting from the use of the information it provides , or any errors omissions or inaccuracies that it may contain.
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