Chi Onwurah MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Social Enterprises, will announce in a speech today (Wednesday) that Labour will make it easier for social enterprises to win Government contracts by ensuring that some procurement tenders are only open to not-for-profit, community-focused organisations.

In Government, Labour will utilise new EU procurement rules that will allow Government departments and local authorities to reserve the award of some three-year contracts exclusively to organisations “in the pursuit of a public service mission”. 

Public procurement remains a significant and growing concern for social enterprises. In 2013, a Social Enterprise UK survey found that 34 per cent of social enterprises cited procurement policy as a principle barrier – up from 25 per cent in 2011. 

At an event hosted by Collaborate and E3M, Chi Onwurah MP will say:

“Public procurement remains a significant and growing concern for many social enterprises who feel locked out.  

“Many public service sectors are now dominated by the same big companies. We want to make it easier for not-for-profit, community-focused organisations to win Government contracts.  And to help drive this, a Labour Government in 2015 will enable departments to offer some contracts exclusively for organisations “in the pursuit of a public service mission. 

“We want to draw on the innovation of social enterprises. Rooted in their communities, social enterprises can identify new, effective and enterprising ways of delivering public services.”