Small & Medium Businesses

Knowing where to start on social value can often seem like a challenge, however, many businesses and community organisations already generate additional social value in their local communities. Click on the 1-minute video below to see ideas of what Social Value could look like in your organisation.

Check out our easy guide to Social Value to get you started SME Public Sector Procurement - A Focus on Social Value.

All opportunities to provide ECC with goods and services over £100k are advertised on our tendering website, Proactis. Once your organisation is registered you will be able to view current opportunities and submit bids through Proactis. Support for using Proactis is available through their help desk.

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.

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.

There are many initiatives to support business in Essex. Please see some of the most prominent

Backing Essex Business fully funded by Essex County Council and delivered by Let’s Do Bus ine s s Group, Backing Essex Business provides help for your business to grow through advice, access to business finance, and training.

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

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
Apprenticeships Levy Transfer
Training and apprenticeships
Venue hire
Knowledge transfer partnerships
Disclosure and Barring Service

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 .

Employee Assistance Programme

Care Market Offers