A trial has started today aimed at providing SMEs with better access to government IT and other types of contracts.

From 1 May until 31 July 2008, the www.supply2.gov.uk web site will allow new registrants to gain free access to public sector contracts valued under £100,000 for the UK and Northern Ireland.

The trial is part of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) Strategy to promote smaller businesses, said business minister Shriti Vadera.

"Small and medium sized businesses need our support to expand. Many smaller businesses are more innovative, have lower costs and present better value for taxpayers than larger firms," she said.

"Introducing Britain's small firms to government procurement contracts online will provide opportunities to grow that they would not have otherwise found," said Vadera.

Currently small businesses have to pay for access to public sector contracts.

"Opening up public sector procurement to the UK's 4.5 million small businesses can and should eradicate the false assumption that biggest is always best," said John Wright, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses.