Big money contracts on offer at business event (From Thurrock Gazette)

Big money contracts on offer at business event

5:19pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

A DOZEN big businesses gathered at the London Cruise Terminal on Thursday to offer millions of pounds worth of contracts.

They were offering service contracts to 150 smaller, local businesses and suppliers at the event organised by Thurrock Council.

It follows the council’s first business conference meeting last year where calls were made for an event like this one.

Among the companies at the Cruise Terminal were AMEC, RWE npower, South Essex College, Balfour Beatty and National Express and Vopak, who have already stated their intention to source local companies as they take on the challenge of turning Coryton refinery into an import terminal.

The fuel import giants, who already have a site in West Thurrock, were on the hunt for a diverse range of skilled services, including welding and fabrication, fire protection products and testing, general engineering, security, civil engineering and signage. 

The company is following up with four companies it met on the day.

Council leader John Kent said: “Working with our partners at the Essex Chambers of Commerce and BIZphit we have managed to find a dozen buyers from businesses who between them potentially have £7.5m of contract opportunities available.

“Local suppliers will be talking to these buyers and we really hope these conversations will lead to contracts being signed and business being done.”

He added: “Thurrock Council wants to work with local businesses and we want local businesses to work with us. If we can work together everyone will benefit, including, ultimately, the whole community of Thurrock.

“A strong Thurrock economy is crucial to our plans to improve prosperity and the quality of life for local people.”

There were also workshops at Thursday’s event carried out by the council’s procurement services, the Low Carbon Business Programme, and Tenderforce on public sector procurement.

The workshops were aimed at helping local people untangle the web of bureaucracy that can come with doing business with public bodies, such as the council.

“We know this bureaucracy can make it difficult for smaller local businesses to compete for contracts and our procurement team and others were available throughout the day to answer questions and try to offer help.”