smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The Scottish Executive has revealed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will benefit from a new office equipment buying initiative.

Procurement Scotland, a national body set up to drive collaboration across the public sector, announced that a new framework to source equipment such as photocopiers, printers and scanners will use seven suppliers.

John Swinney, finance secretary, adds: 'One Scottish SME is a direct supplier and numerous other SMEs are involved in the supply chain, giving Scottish SMEs the opportunity to win public sector business.'

The total value of the contract is expected to be around £10 million a year, with savings of approximately £1.5 million per annum anticipated for governmental organisations.

Swinney says that the initiative shows how collaborative procurement can be used to save public money, as well as ensuring items used by the sector are sustainable and energy efficient.

The announcement follows the minister's attempts earlier in the year to encourage small companies to supply to governmental bodies, which pointed out that they spend around £8 billion each year on goods and services.

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