Small businesses are not getting the help that Welsh Government has made available to them, claims Suzy Davies, AM for South Wales West.
The Welsh Conservative AM has learned from constituents that neither Swansea nor Bridgend Councils has fully implemented the Welsh Government’s plans to allow businesses to apply for tenders and funding.
Mrs Davies said:
“The ‘Supplier Qualification Information Database’ was introduced to make it quick and simple for businesses applying for local authority contracts online. Yet Swansea and Bridgend Council are still wedded to long-winded and time consuming application processes. While large corporations and companies will have the time and money to prepare such applications, small businesses and sole traders will not. This leaves small businesses applying for these contracts at a severe disadvantage when trying to compete with larger companies.
“Over 90% of the private sector in Wales in made up of small businesses. It’s good to hear Welsh Government cutting some red tape at last. It’s a shame, then, that I have had to tell Finance Minister that councils in my region, led by her own political party, are not following her rules.”
Mrs Davies added:
“I am pleased that the Minister is now looking into why the two councils have not complied. I hope that her intervention means that this business-friendly process will be up and running as soon as possible”
