A Cumbria-based charity is encouraging local businesses to sign up to the government's business website after it won a prestigious contract.
Brathay Hall Trust in Ambleside has been commissioned to help improve children's services for Cumbria County Council after applying for work through the supply2.gov.uk website.
More than 123,000 companies have already joined the website, which provides details about thousands of government contracts for small businesses.
On average, more than 3,000 contracts are advertised on the website every month, and the North West has the highest number of opportunities in England outside of London and the South East.
Jill Dawes, Practice Lead for Children and Young People's Services at Brathay Hall Trust, said:
"Brathay Hall Trust has a very specialist area of expertise so we use the supply2.gov.uk website to automatically search for government contracts that are relevant to us.
"We work with disadvantaged young people to help them develop the skills and confidence they need to make positive choices in their lives.
"We've been commissioned by the council to help them find out what children and teenagers really think about the services on offer. We'll be making sure that young people from a wide variety of backgrounds have their voice heard."
Companies which have signed up to supply2.gov.uk receive advice on the best way of accessing government contracts, and a free daily email alert notifying them of relevant new opportunities.
Beverley Hughes, Regional Minister for the North West, said:
"Every year the government spends many billions of pounds on public sector contracts, and it's vital that we're able to help small and medium sized companies in the North West take advantage of them.
"In the current economic climate, this is more important than ever and I hope even more local companies will sign up to the supply2.gov.uk website.
"Small and medium sized businesses can often offer the public sector better value for money than larger companies as they have smaller overheads, local knowledge and great flexibility."
Local businesses can find out more about how to apply for government contracts at a 'Developing your tendering skills' roadshow at the Ramada Hotel in Manchester on 12 March. More information about the event is available on the supply2.gov.uk website.
