Support for business

The construction sector makes a significant contribution to the local economy so we are committed to supporting existing businesses as well as those who wish to start up in this area. We provide advice and financial support and work closely with many partner organisations outlined below to ensure that your business is given the best opportunity to grow.

Key sector contacts

Selling to the council
We want to make it as simple as possible for you to do business with the Council. The first step in supplying to us, and the wider Scottish public sector, is to register with Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) and Public Contracts Scotland Tender (PCS-T). We would advise all interested suppliers to register on both systems to allow them to gain access to any tender opportunities the Council may have. A list of current tenders and future opportunities can be found on the Council’s buyer profile on PCS.

Public Contracts Scotland (PCS)
National advertising portal for Scottish public sector buyers and their contractors to advertise contract and sub-contract opportunities, as well as publish contract awards. Register for free to access all information on public sector business opportunities and submit quotes through the Quick Quote facility and tenders to do business with the public sector. This website must be used by all Scottish public sector bodies for all purchases of over £50,000 for goods and services or £2 million for works.

Supplier Development Programme (SDP)
Most public sector spend is construction related and SDP helps connect you to the right people and the right tendering opportunities for your business. It provides free advice and training to guide you through the public sector tendering process and ensures you are registered in the right places to secure new work.

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)
Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry working to improve skills, increase competitive edge and respond to the many challenges employers face.

Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST)
Formerly Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, BE-ST is the launchpad to a zero-carbon built environment.

They provide the connections, infrastructure and culture needed to solve the construction sector’s most pressing challenges. They bring together world-class academia, government bodies and industry at all levels to future-proof the commercial and environmental road forward for our sector.

As a not-for-profit organisation, BE-ST is connected to over 50,000 businesses, organisations, and individuals in the built environment ecosystem. They work with them to:

• Develop new products, business models and services
• Access funding streams
• Explore advanced equipment at their Innovation Campus
• Create scalable solutions to industry challenges
• Enhance knowledge and skills

Constructionline
The UK’s largest comprehensive database which maintains the pre-qualification information on suppliers ranging from financials to operational processes like Health and Safety. The aim is to reduce time and money spent on the duplication of pre-qualification information for suppliers and connect to potential buyers with current opportunities.

Hub South West Scotland
Public private partnership set up to maximise local impact from the construction of community facilities in the same area. The hub welcomes new members to their supplier network and connects these to contract supply chain, training, placement and apprentice opportunities.

Business Gateway Lanarkshire offers free and independent advice to all new and existing businesses in Lanarkshire as well as those just thinking about starting a business. If you are looking for advice, market intelligence, support to improve your website, specialist one to one support or
even a sounding board, Business Gateway Lanarkshire is happy to hear from you. Want to talk more about it?