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Most businesses (including small and medium-sized enterprises) have a wide range of opportunities to sell to public sector organisations. Whether you sell stationery, office furniture, medical supplies, IT equipment, catering services, training courses or other services, there's likely to be a market for your product or service within the public sector.

If you already sell to the public sector in Northern Ireland, then you can build on that experience and expand to other public sector contracts elsewhere. The ideal locations to target initially are those closest geographically - Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

There are also opportunities for subcontractors to benefit from high-value public sector contracts that have been won by other, larger businesses.

Potential customers across the UK and Ireland could include:

• government departments and agencies
• local councils
• health trusts
• police forces
• universities
• colleges
• prisons

Key UK central government departments that purchase from businesses include:

• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• the Department for 91Ï㽶»ÆÉ«ÊÓƵ
• the Department for Communities and Local Government
• the Ministry of Defence
• the Department for Education
• the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• the Department for Business and Trade
• the Department for Energy Security and NetZero
• the Department of Health & Social Care

View a list of .

Key Irish central government departments that purchase from businesses include:

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
• Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
• Department of Children, Disability and Equality
• Department of Defence
• Department of Health

View a list of . 

All local authorities rely on businesses to provide services, works and supplies. Search for . See a list of .  

The tendering process

The public sector buys goods and services through a process called tendering. This is where an organisation states what they need, and suppliers can submit tenders showing how they would meet those needs and for how much.

Public sector bodies have strict procedures they must follow when procuring - to ensure the process is fair and open to scrutiny.

Many provide guides or websites explaining what they need and how you can become a supplier.

Another good way to get government work is by becoming a subcontractor for a large company that has already won a big government contract.