PASS - Helping organisations become greener to win public sector contracts

The six Berkshire Local Authorities, in partnership with Business Link and Social Enterprise Berkshire have launched a new programme for Small and Medium sized (SME) businesses in the South East.  This programme will provide support through improving sustainability, reducing impacts on the environment, and increasing competitiveness.  The programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through SEEDA.

This programme will offer a free seminar, free workshops and mentoring support to businesses currently involved in supplying, or aspiring to supply, goods and services to the public sector.

Seminar/Workshop

The seminar will provide an insight into local authority procurement and how sustainability is key to winning public sector contracts.  The workshops will be flexible, learning sessions.  Delegates will explore the issues; identifying key challenges and ideas for action in their own business.  Each attendee will then come away with an action plan to improve the sustainability in their business.

Mentoring

The post workshop free mentoring sessions - one-to-one meetings, telephone and email support from a business mentor – will help the action plan to become reality.

Workshop Dates

17^th March         The Centre, Slough

Further dates to be announced

Booking

For further information or to book a place at the workshops email passberkshire@gwebusinesswest.co.uk or call Juanita on 07715 856 263

Download the PASS flyer here

PASS Public Sector

The PASS public sector procurement strand covers the Berkshire unitary authorities and partners.  Its objective is to improve sustainability - environmental, social-ethical and local economic outcomes - within their procurement processes.

Sustainable Vehicle Procurement Toolkit

Public sector PASS has developed a tool that weights vehicles on whole-life cost and sustainability criteria.  It is available as a series of Excel spreadsheets which survey six different vehicle types: small cars, estate cars, small vans, large vans, pickups and 4x4s.

Each spreadsheet compares vehicles on the direct costs (investment, operational and maintenance costs) and indirect ones (CO₂ and pollutant costs).  It may be useful to procurers and suppliers alike.  Only vehicles compliant with Green Public Procurement core criteria are included. 

Download a sample vehicle tool - pickups

The full toolkit is on the South East Business Portal.  Site registration is free.  Follow the links to PASS or document store.