After a series of consultations with small businesses throughout B.C., there is now a clearer picture of what government can do to make it easier for small businesses to compete for and win government contracts.

Released today, the interim report on the Small Business - Doing Business with Government Project contains an update on the fall consultation process. In October, 56 small business owners or representatives attended four community consultations and about 90 people responded to a survey. Another four sessions were held in November and hundreds of people were in contact with the executive project lead directly.

Feedback heard from small businesses during the consultation process asks government to:

1) Tell them, through a variety of ways, what opportunities they have to access government business.

2) Enhance the information and resources specifically targeted for small businesses related to selling to government.

3) Make the processes for competing for government work as easy as possible.

The success of this project depends on input from the small business community. Although the in-person consultation sessions are finished, small businesses can still have a say by taking the survey before Dec. 6, 2013 at: http://www.jtst.gov.bc.ca/selltobcgov/survey.htm

Overall, the Doing Business with Government Project follows through on one of the principles of the BC Small Business Accord, to create long-term growth opportunities for small business and to reduce barriers to government's procurement process. A final report including recommendations for government will be publicly released by March 2014.

To read the interim report, and to learn more about the Small Business - Doing Business with Government Project, visit: http://www.jtst.gov.bc.ca/selltobcgov/index.htm

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business
250 387-2799