Small Businesses, Social Enterprises and Voluntary Organisations | Provider Hub

Many small and medium-sized businesses, social enterprises and community and voluntary organisations already generate additional social value to their local communities. Knowing where to start on social value can often seem like a challenge. In this section you will find guidance developed for these specific sectors.

If you are new to Essex County Council procurement, visit the Supply the Council web page and find our procurement opportunities.

The guidance below can help you understand the particularities of tendering processes with public sector and ways of getting the most from Social Value.

How to bid for Government contracts as an SME effectively: if you are new to bidding for public sector contracts, this is a useful guide on how to bid effectively developed by the Cabinet Office.
SME Tender Support Guide: guidance developed by Connected Places Catapult provides introductory information for SMEs new to procurement, bids and tenders with public sector.
SME Guide to doing business with public sector: guidance developed by Tussel with practical advice to help businesses overcome barriers that might be presented in tendering processes with public sector.
Getting the most from Social Value. A step-by-step guide for SMEs and VCSEs (PDF, 775KB): guidance developed by the National Social Value Taskforce and the Local Government Association.
SME Public Sector Procurement - A Focus on Social Value: guidance developed by ECC for SMEs, specifically around social value

We are providing links to external resources to aid general knowledge development only; these links do not imply endorsement of particular products, services or organisations. When bidding for ECC contracts always read the tender documents provided and follow the instructions carefully.

Essex County Council offers fully-funded business support services to grow your business, check the opportunities at Backing Essex Business

Businesses can access workspace at the following innovation hubs which are supported by the council:

ARISE (Anglia Ruskin Innovation Centre for Science and Engineering) in Chelmsford and Harlow Science Park
ICKG (University of Essex Innovation Centre Knowledge Gateway) in Colchester

Visit the Council Support for Business web page to explore the wide range of services the council can offer you, see some examples below:

Growth and funding opportunities
Information and advice
Training and apprenticeships
Apprenticeships Levy Transfer
Venue hire
Knowledge transfer partnerships
Disclosure and Barring Service

Visit the catalogue section Exploring the Social Value Themes and Outcomes and find further guidance on ECC Social Value Measures and examples of social value practices delivered by small businesses in Essex.

If you have any questions about ECC social value approach or if you need information on this website in a different format, please email social.value@essex.gov.uk . We’d appreciate your feedback too, let us know how we can make this web page better.