Sponsored by PublicSectorExperts.com

Hey there👋

Think the UK’s trade swings are about global demand? Think again.
What if one shiny factor—gold—is throwing off the whole picture? In February, non-monetary gold caused a nearly £8B shift in trade data. For public sector planning and economic reporting, that’s a big deal.

💡 Good to Know

Digital Business Workshop: Power up your growth in Manchester!

Financial Tech Masterclass: Unleash AI's power for your business!

CCS Supplier Showcase: Discover AI innovations solving real-world challenges!

🔍 Today’s Focus:

Good to Know: AI Copilot saves councils a day/week, CCS Showcase solves real-world issues, and Manchester events boost digital and financial skills.
Daily Spend Watch: Wales in focus—40% of tenders under £100K, infrastructure and green contracts lead high-value spend.
International View: Denmark gears up for tenders in healthcare, pensions, and metro expansion.
Opportunity Picks: School Decarbonisation project seeks a phased design plan across three sites.
News: Clinical trials strong but uneven, emergency steel delivery saves 37K jobs, tariffs dropped on 89 essentials.
Technology: SpreadSimple builds websites from Sheets, Nily AI boosts productivity, Appsmith embeds smart automations.

Let’s dive into the details 👇

DAILY SPEND WATCH 

🗺️ Region in Focus: Wales(01-15th of April)

📈 Market Insights

Contract values in Wales demonstrate the region's diverse procurement landscape:

• Value Range: £10,000 - £5,000,000

• Most Common Band: £100,000 - £500,000

• High-Value Focus: Infrastructure and utility services dominate the upper value range

• SME Opportunity: Approximately 40% of contracts fall below the £100,000 threshold, providing significant opportunities for smaller suppliers

The data reveals particular growth in environmental services contracts, reflecting Wales' commitment to sustainability and natural resource management.

INTERNATIONAL VIEW

🇩🇰 Top 5 Upcoming Public Contracts – Denmark

1. Udbud af ortopædisk fodtøj til Fællesudbud Sjælland
   Buyer: Vordingborg Kommune
   Sector: Healthcare / Medical Equipment
   Upcoming tender for orthopedic footwear across Zealand municipalities.

2. Invitation to M5 Metro Line Information Meeting
   Buyer: Metroselskabet I/S
   Sector: Construction / Transport Infrastructure
   Early supplier engagement for Copenhagen’s future M5 Metro line.

3. System til pensionsudbetaling – markedsdialog
   Buyer: Københavns Kommune Økonomiforvaltningen
   Sector: IT / Public Administration
   Seeking input on a new pension payment system for the municipality.

4. Indkøb af elkørestole via KomUdbud
   Buyer: Esbjerg Kommune
   Sector: Healthcare / Assistive Technology
   Procurement of electric wheelchairs via KomUdbud framework.

5. Markedsdialog – regningsvidere­sendelse fra sygehuse
   Buyer: Københavns Kommune Økonomiforvaltningen
   Sector: IT / Healthcare Systems
   Market dialogue on a system to forward hospital invoices to local authorities.

OPPORTUNITY PICKS

School Decarbonisation Tender Opportunity

Overview: This opportunity requires a design team to develop and implement proposals for decarbonising three school sites from RIBA Stage 2 through to project completion (RIBA 7).

💡 Winning Strategies

Develop a phased implementation model that allows for early wins while minimizing disruption to school operations. This approach would demonstrate your understanding of both the technical challenges of decarbonisation and the practical realities of working in educational environments. Consider developing a visual representation of your phased approach that shows energy/cost savings at each milestone, illustrating how your solution will deliver benefits throughout the project lifecycle rather than just at completion.

NEWS 

🔬UK Clinical Trials: Strengths & Gaps

New MHRA data shows the UK leads in early-phase clinical trials (1 in 8 first-in-human), with 85% of the trials funded by the industry. Cancer dominates (33%), while heart disease, mental health & chronic pain are underrepresented. Diversity gaps persist. MHRA aims to boost inclusion, streamline approvals & attract global R&D.

🔥 Govt Secures Raw Materials to Save British Steel

The UK has delivered vital US-sourced raw materials to British Steel, ensuring blast furnaces keep running. A second shipment from Australia is en route. Backed by emergency legislation, the move safeguards 37,000 jobs and secures future infrastructure demand under the Plan for Change. New interim execs appointed.

🛍️ Tariff Cuts on 89 Essentials to Boost Growth

The UK has suspended import tariffs on 89 products, including. pasta, juices, spices, agave syrup & plastics—until July 2027. Aimed at cutting business costs and lowering consumer prices, the move is set to save firms £17M/year under the Plan for Change. The full list is available on GOV.UK.

TECHNOLOGY

🚀 SpreadSimple transforms Google Sheets into feature-rich websites without coding. The platform includes AI site creation, instant content updates from spreadsheets, and built-in features for e-commerce, search, and payment processing.

📊 Nily AI combines 20+ AI assistants in one browser extension for different professional needs. The platform includes tools for email writing, PDF reading, image generation, content creation, and LLM comparison to boost productivity anywhere online.

🤖 Appsmith Agents embed AI into applications to automate business processes with secure access to company data. The platform enables teams to build custom AI assistants with automated actions while maintaining enterprise-grade security controls.

TIP OF THE DAY

Build Strong Supplier Relationships

Develop collaborative partnerships with suppliers through regular communication and shared goals. Strong relationships foster trust and improve contract outcomes.

Example: Schedule quarterly reviews with vendors to address challenges proactively and ensure alignment with project objectives.

Quick Question!

We’d love to know how today’s Focus resonated with you. Your feedback helps us improve each issue. 😊

New here? Welcome aboard! Join the Focus community to get insights straight in your inbox.

Need help standing out? Let us spotlight your business or service and partner with us.

Got a tip, question, or big win? We’re listening! Share it with us, and we’ll see it featured.

Looking for expert advice? Our team of public sector pros has your back, get in touch here.

PublicSectorExperts is transforming how businesses navigate the UK public sector.