Government hails SMB representation on new framework

Third of chosen suppliers on Digital Services framework brand new to government business

The government has pledged its commitment to SMB IT firms and boasted that almost all suppliers on a new framework fall into the category.

The new Digital Services framework - put together by the Government Procurement Service (GPS) and Government Digital Service (GDS) - is designed to give government easy access to suppliers of all sizes capable of helping it design and build public services that are "digital by default".

Some 183 suppliers have won a place on the framework, 84 per cent of which are SMBs and a third of which have never traded with the government before. Of that third, 94 per cent are SMBs, the government added.

The government has been pushing its "digital by default" message for some time now, and Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said that small businesses play a big part in the vision.

"The Digital Services framework shows how we are levelling the playing field for government contracts and living up to our ambition to support growth by giving opportunities to new entrants and smaller suppliers who can deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions based on user need," he said.

"We want to have a highly competitive market for government business, access to innovation, and to drive growth by working with businesses of all sizes. That's how we will deliver world-leading digital public services and build a stronger economy."

In September the government was blasted by the Public Accounts Committee for not putting enough business through small suppliers and said it was a "long way off" its target to spend a quarter of its budget with SMBs by 2015.

Government chief procurement officer Bill Crothers admitted that in the past, it has been too hard for smaller players to cut themselves a slice of government business.

"SMEs are a key driver for our economic growth, but in the past it was far too difficult for them to win business with government because of unnecessary and bureaucratic procurement procedures," he said.

"That's why we have reformed how government buys public services and streamlined the procurement process to make sure we're attracting the most competitive, innovative suppliers, including SMEs."