Our team at CVS Falkirk is delivering a series of FREE workshops on procurement and social enterprises in the coming months – these workshops are open to any third sector group or organisation looking to learn more about the procurement process, or how to be more socially enterprising.
Our workshops start with “A Beginner’s Guide to Tendering & Public Sector Procurement”, taking place Thursday 9th November, 10:30am – 12:30pm at Bailliefields Community Hub, Sunnyside Road, Brightons, Falkirk, FK2 0RN.
Facilitated by Claire McLaughlin of Just Enterprise, this workshop is for groups and organisations who want to find out more about public sector procurement, the business opportunities available and how to find them, and how to get started with tendering.
The public sector in Scotland accounts for over £11 billion of spend per annum, purchasing everything from social care to education. It represents a huge potential market for social enterprises and the services that they offer.
At the same time, “Social Procurement” is a growing trend in Scotland, with businesses looking to source goods and services in more ethical and responsible ways.
This FREE workshop is for anyone operating or working for a third sector group or organisation operating in the Falkirk and District area. Places are limited to 25 people.
This practical workshop will:
- show you how to navigate the Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) website
- aim to help you understand how to find procurement and tendering opportunities
- discuss how to make the most of a PCS registration
- explain some of the terminology involved in public sector procurement and tendering (which can often seem complex or confusing to those unfamiliar with or new to procurement)
The workshop will have plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion with fellow attendees, as well as Claire and the team at CVS Falkirk.
You may not know if procurement is relevant for your social enterprise, but if you’re providing goods or services, underpinned by ethical and/or sustainable commitments, you might be surprised – and there’s no better way to find out than by coming on Thursday 9th November.
Places are limited to 25 people, and booking is essential. Tea, coffee, and a light lunch will be provided by the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group.
To book your place, or for further information, please visit the Eventbrite page (linked for your convenience), or contact our team by email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk
Our second workshop, “Take Your Social Enterprise from Idea to Reality”, takes place on Thursday 30th November, 10:30am – 12:30pm, also at Bailliefields Community Hub.
Are you thinking about starting a social enterprise? Or you might already be established and wanting to add a new project, in the process of founding a new organisation, or just have a socially minded idea you want to explore? If so, this workshop is for you.
Getting your idea off the ground is one of the biggest challenges for start-up social enterprises and often leaves entrepreneurs struggling with where to start. A way to address this can be to pilot your ideas, in part or in full, giving you an opportunity to test the market, gather evidence and start to build on your idea.
Delivered by Emma Ives, Business Advisor at Firstport (Scotland’s agency for start-up social entrepreneurs and a key funder for the sector), this practical workshop will help you to think about how to break down your idea into smaller elements – to hopefully get you started more quickly.
A key component will be thinking collaboratively – whether that is partners, stakeholders, customers or beneficiaries – you can achieve more by making the most of your connections.
Join our team and meet other aspiring and established social entrepreneurs. Together we will run through some of the practicalities of testing your idea, and get you thinking about a manageable way to take your project from idea to reality.
Places are limited to 25 people, and booking is essential. Tea, coffee, and a light lunch will be provided by the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group.
To book your place, or for further information, please visit the Eventbrite page (linked for your convenience), or contact our team by email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk
Leave a Reply