In these difficult financial times, East Cambridgeshire District Council is launching ‘Buy Local’ as part of a push by the authority to help the area’s economy to grow and prosper.

 

With research showing for every £1 spent by a Council with local businesses an additional 63p of benefit is generated for the local economy, ‘Buy Local’ aims to see more of the Council’s budget spent in East Cambridgeshire.

 

The drive will look to breakdown the perceived barriers to working with the District Council – by helping local business to understand how they can bid for work and by simplifying the procurement process.

 

Cllr James Palmer, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Our district has a wide variety of businesses who all can offer high quality goods and services – as a local authority we need to seize the chance to help them to develop and thrive. As a Council we know that we have a very tight budget, however, where possible we want to use residents’ money to support local business. 

 

“People may ask why we haven’t done this before, to an extent we have as in the last two years we have spent £1.8m on goods and services from businesses in the district.  However, we are increasingly aware that local businesses see many barriers to working with a local authority. It is vital if East Cambridgeshire is to prosper that we look to make things easier for local firms to bid for work. This is not to say we will be handing out contracts freely – companies need to demonstrate they can deliver value for money and excellence but I fundamentally believe there is more scope for local businesses to engage with the Council and they deserve to be supported.”

 

The drive to ‘Buy Local’ in East Cambridgeshire is being launched just as Central Government initiates its own consultation into helping businesses win contracts from the public sector.

 

For more information on the opportunities to work with East Cambridgeshire District Council please visit the website and click on www.eastcambs.gov.uk/east-cambs-district-council/doing-business-council.