The Challenge of Competitive Procurement: Value for Money Versus Small Business Support

Both UK government and small firms believe that public sector procurement is a good way of helping to support small business and may even lead to improvements in service delivery. The article begins by examining the extensive government literature on procurement-related policies and initiatives, followed by a brief consideration of the SME policy context. It then presents and discusses evidence of procurement practice from public sector organizations, and assesses the implications for the small business sector.