Poorman-Skyers Research and Consulting
Croydon based Poorman-Skyers Research and Consulting used CompeteFor to secure a contract with the London Development Agency (LDA) to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment for the LDA’s Economic Development Strategy.
Poorman-Skyers Research and Consulting is a small South London consultancy that specialises in training and social policy research. They help clients to develop solutions that achieve positive, sustainable outcomes through the evaluation of qualitative research.
Janet Poorman, Consultant, first heard about CompeteFor when the London Development Agency announced that it was the chosen portal for their procurement along with the wider GLA Group*. With many of their key clients in the public sector, Janet immediately registered Poorman-Skyers Research and Consulting with CompeteFor.
Referring to completing and publishing their business profile, which all businesses must do in order to become visible to buyers using CompeteFor, Janet explains, ‘The questions were quite specific and although it took awhile to initially pull together the information, it saved me time in the long run when it came to applying for contracts. I found that there was generally less red-tape than public sector contracts I had bid for previously, which was refreshing.’
“The process is not too long, so small businesses like ours can easily participate, and once you have filled out your profile you can apply for as many contracts as you like”
Janet discovered the contract to supply the Equality Impact Assessment through an email alert. After being shortlisted through CompeteFor, Poorman-Skyers Research and Consulting submitted a detailed proposal to the LDA and was invited to an interview. Since delivering the contract Janet has also secured three other projects with the LDA to provide similar advisory services.
‘The best part is that the process is so efficient,’ Janet adds, ‘It is not too long, so small businesses like ours can easily participate, and once you have filled out your profile you can apply for as many contracts as you like. The contract details and application process mean you can quickly tell if an opportunity is relevant to your business. Our contract with the LDA also opened doors to other opportunities, so the time we took applying was very well spent.’
* The GLA Group includes the London Development Agency (LDA), London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and Transport for London (TfL)
