The initial phase of The Construction Enterprise Pilot Project (CEPP) will be a pilot in the South Wales Valleys area, with the aim of expanding the project to the rest of Wales in the longer term. The support is free to FMB Cymru members and the initial phase of the project is to run until December 2014. Any companies interested, whether they are currently FMB Cymru members or not, are encouraged to contact the FMB Wales office on 01656 750955 or email wales@fmb.org.uk.
Richard Jenkins, Director of FMB Cymru and Chair of the
Wales Procurement Supplier Board, said:
"The project aims to practically support smaller builders to be able to bid for public sector contracts more successfully, by increasing the capability of local construction firms to help them win the contracts that they will be best-placed to deliver. It will enable like-minded concerns to work together to achieve growth and success in the tender market in South Wales Valleys initially, and then use the knowledge, contacts and skills to keep winning contracts in the local area and wider markets in the longer term"
“We want to help Welsh local builders to compete at a price point comparable with their larger competitors, and develop their business by taking part in joint activities that will drive success through a focus on cost reduction, good management and control. We feel it’s important for us to be supporting small construction businesses in Wales, to achieve the critical mass required to bid into contracts, that previously they would not have had the confidence or experience to engage in"
The Construction Enterprise Pilot Project (CEPP) will help support the ‘Joint Bidding Guide’ launched by the Minister for Finance last autumn.
Finance
Minister Jane Hutt said:
“I’m delighted that the FMB want to support the Joint Bidding Guide and improve access to contracts for smaller businesses in Wales. We all want to see access to public contracts widen through consortium bidding and this is an excellent example of how this can happen. I would encourage small businesses in the South Wales Valleys to take advantage of the FMB’s pilot to improve their chances of winning public sector contracts.”
