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The UK's productivity gap is widening—top firms are now 3.59x more productive than average businesses. The secret? Smarter workflows, tech adoption, and upskilling teams.

Looking to take your performance to the next level?

💡 Good to Know

Learn how to secure public sector contracts from Stuart Reed, who's helped 250+ companies achieve a 76% bid success rate. Exclusive to Liverpool-based businesses, fully funded.

Here’s an overview of recent developments:

• £305M Contracts Spotlight - Infrastructure and IT lead the pack, key trends, and SME opportunities.

• £614M Social Housing Bid - Midlands project with SME-friendly terms, boost bids with social value strategies.

• Big Wins & Funding News - Bradford’s cultural boost and £15M to cut food waste, new opportunities ahead.

Let’s dive into the details👇

DAILY SPEND WATCH

📊 Public Sector Spending Analysis: Contracts Finder Report January 06th, 2025

Market Overview

With 223 contracts totaling £305,009,640.35, January 6th's procurement data reveals a strong focus on infrastructure and professional services. The construction sector leads with significant investments in building and civil engineering projects.

Sector Performance

Business services and IT follow closely, indicating continued digital transformation across public sector. Notable trend: increased emphasis on professional services contracts.

Business Landscape

SME participation remains robust, particularly in specialized technical services and consulting engagements. The geographic distribution shows a balanced regional development focus.

OPPORTUNITY PICKS

Transforming Social Housing—Dynamic Installation & Repair Works in the Midlands

Opportunity Overview

• Contract Value: £614.4M

• Duration: Jan 2025 – Jan 2029 (48 months)

• Scope: Installation and repair works for social housing and public buildings.

• Location: Midlands, UK.

• Suitability: Open to SMEs, but not VCSEs.

💡 One Strategy That Could Set You Apart

Stand out by emphasizing your social value proposition. Focus on training programs, apprenticeships, and partnerships with marginalized communities. Demonstrate how your approach not only meets but exceeds the requirements for inclusivity and economic upliftment. This alignment with the buyer’s values could be the decisive factor in securing the contract.

NEWS

🎉 Bradford 2025: City of Culture

Bradford secures £5M more funding (£15M total) to deliver over 1,000 events and create 6,500 jobs.

What to Expect? Festivals, art, and live shows will take center stage. Youth apprenticeships will open doors to exciting careers.

The Impact? The local economy is set for a £140M boost with £700M growth predicted by 2030.

Get Involved! Join 3,000 volunteers and help shape Bradford's cultural legacy.

🍎 £15M Boost to Tackle Food Waste

Big Win for Charities! A £15M fund will help save 330,000 tonnes of food from waste, delivering meals to those in need.

What’s at Stake? Thousands of tonnes of edible food go unused yearly. This fund helps farmers and charities redistribute surplus food, cutting waste and feeding families.

What’s Ahead? Grants start at £20,000 to fund tools, training, and equipment for food collection and delivery. Details to follow in the New Year.

🎉 New Partnership Launched

The UK, US, and EU Chambers of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost economic growth in Cameroon.

Why It Matters? The focus is on innovation, shared prosperity, and tackling challenges.

Next Steps? Committees will coordinate efforts, launch workshops, and track progress to ensure success.

TECHNOLOGY

📧 Cora: AI transforms emails into concise stories, automates replies

📄 AnyParser: Extract content from PDFs and images with LLMs

📊 Swallow: Transform Excel pricing models into financial APIs

TIP OF THE DAY

🔒 Concerned about cybersecurity in procurement?

1. Conduct Regular Audits: Regularly assess your cybersecurity measures to identify vulnerabilities in your procurement processes.

2. Implement Strong Access Controls: Ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive procurement data—protect your information!

3. Train Your Team: Provide ongoing cybersecurity training to staff involved in procurement; awareness is your first line of defense!

Quick Question!

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