We’re keeping it local

OLDHAM’S small business community was out in force at the Oldham2oldham event organised by Oldham Council.

A series of seminars and meetings with the council’s buying team was greeted enthusiastically by more than 100 small business owners.

Head of procurement, Ian Claydon-Butler, hailed the event, at the Earl Business Centre in Hathershaw, a resounding success and told the audience a second was a definite possibility.

Michelle Ward, from Due North, the technology business which hosts the internet portal The Chest, on which the majority of purchasing operations available from the council are posted, delivered three workshops of how the system works.

Staff from the council’s IT section, which administers The Chest, were on hand to register businesses and answer questions on the system.

Council leader Howard Sykes spoke of his experience of trying to trade with the council in his previous commercial life and allayed fears of many in his attentive audience by offering to intervene personally if anyone was experiencing difficulties.

He offered one questioner his business card and personal contact details — it was that kind of event.

Chris Bungay, from Brown’s Books, outlined how her company had used the internet portal to grow her business, which now has a turnover in excess of £20 million.

She advised her audience to enrol on tender application training days. Anwar Choudhry, Oldham Council’s supply chain officer, pointed out that free courses were available at the Earl Mill.

A series of round-table discussions hosted by officers from eight major departments were kept busy for the duration of the event.

This was a day when the Oldham business community proved itself in the eyes of the local authority who made a public commitment to source goods and services locally wherever possible, within financial and supply chain guidelines.