For more information and to register for the events, visit http://www.supply2.gov.uk
More than 9,000 companies in the region have already signed up to the website, which provides an up to the minute database of government contracts for small businesses wishing to supply to the public sector.
Suppliers who have signed up to the site receive advice on how best to access government contracts and a free daily email alert notifying them of new opportunities that are relevant to their business.
Nick Brown, Minister for the North East, said "Every year the government spends many billions of pounds on public sector contracts. It is important that we help small and medium sized firms take advantage of the opportunities these contracts provide. In the current economic climate this is more important than ever. The supply.2gov.uk website is a crucial tool for this."
The site includes information about opportunities across a range of public sector bodies, and improved links with the CompeteFor.com website mean that companies registering with Supply2.gov.uk can also access sub-contracting opportunities relating to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Supply2.gov.uk Marketing Brand Manager Fiona Campbell said "A recent refresh to the Supply2.gov.uk website in November 2008 has ensured the site is a more user friendly platform where registrants can benefit from increased information and better navigation.
"A key feature of the service, such as the Daily Email Alert profile, allows suppliers to match their contract search results exactly with their business requirements. Additional resources and information on interoperability relationships have also become more prominent on the site in order to further enhance the contract notification service."
To encourage more companies to register with the site and to help them understand the public sector market, there will be a series of special events taking place across the country in the spring. The Develop your tendering skills workshop will take place on 5 May at the Thistle Hotel, Newcastle, and will give companies information on how to use the Supply2.gov.uk website, how to put together an effective tender proposal and have their procurement-related questions answered by leading experts.
