Business beaver (From Wiltshire Business Online)

Business beaver

2:07pm Tuesday 3rd February 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

The secret to survival - be better than the rest.

Clearly 2009 is going to be tough but in the true nature of balance whenever problems loom so do opportunities; it's just a case of working that bit harder to find them!

Swindon is one of the most robust centres of economic growth in the UK. Hence the task of providing 36,000 new dwellings by 2026 and why, despite the current global economic turmoil, the New Swindon Company has been successful in attracting commitments to huge sums of inward investment to regenerate the town centre.

Road transport links make Swindon an ideal location, which is one of the reasons why so many large employers and household names have chosen to locate here.

In these times Swindon remains a vibrant place for business and our mutual task over the next year, 18 months, two years - however long this downturn may last is to ensure that our local economy is better than the rest by supporting each other and keeping business in Swindon.

It's not protectionism just sound economic, environmental and commercial judgement. If goods and services are required and available locally it is in all of our interests to explore options for buying locally.

The Swindon Business Charter ( www.swindon.gov.uk/business_charter_final.pdf ), launched last year by the Swindon Strategic Economic Partnership (SSEP) and Swindon Borough Council carries as one of its eight core principals Procurement with an undertaking from the Council to promote local procurement and a challenge to us all to procure products and services locally wherever possible.

But how to go about it? Well good starting places are web portals such as www.buywiltshire.co.uk and www.supply2.gov.uk where details of local contracts and tenders are listed. Also a note for your diary is the procurement event planned by the SSEP in conjunction with the Swindon Chamber of Commerce and FSB. As this column goes to press this is planned for March 6 but please keep your eyes on the business press for final details.

All of us know that Swindon is a great place for business and particularly in the current climate it is incumbent on us all to ensure that our economy is and continues to be better than the rest.

• Contact Rob Harman at Morris Owen on 01793 603900

• Print
• Email
• Share