3rd November 2010 - IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Over 35 representatives from local construction companies gathered to discover the secrets of successful tendering last Wednesday at The Guildhall Derry. The event was co-hosted by Business in the Community’s (BITC) Connections programme, sponsored by ESB Independent Energy, CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland, the Federation of Master Builders and Derry City Council.
The workshop, delivered by Colin Smyth of Constructing Excellence, provided a wealth of tips and advice on understanding the tendering process and tender documentation, how to complete pre-qualification questionnaires, and what to include in constructing a winning bid.
“The construction industry has been severely impacted by the downturn”, said Barry Neilson, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland. “Winning new business through tendering for contracts is competitive and time-consuming. The seminar was designed to help small building companies improve their chances of securing business through tendering in order to survive.”
“Supporting local small business is key to Northern Ireland’s recovery from the recession,” said Susan Kinane, Managing Director of ESB Independent Energy. “The construction industry is central to economic growth and we are delighted to play our part via the Connections programme to help small businesses improve their chances of survival”.
Asked what they liked best about the event, the delegates responded by saying: “We really liked how the presenters simplified the procurement process, provided relevant tips and examples and helped us think through the issues with practical exercises. The speakers were engaging and it was easy to interact with them. We were amazed at the amount of information on free help that is available and benefitted from the variety of business knowledge and advice given on the day.”
