The UK government has spent a record £14.2 billion with SMEs over the 2018 and 2019 years – the highest since government records began in 2013.
According to data from the Cabinet Office, this figure is £1.8 billion more than the previous year.
Oliver Dowden, Cabinet Office minister said: “We’re committed to using the power of government spending to support small businesses across the country and this is something I’ve championed in my time as a minister – so it’s great to see these figures heading in the right direction.”
Government initiatives such as G-Cloud have boosted this spend, with the 11th iteration last year seeing 700 suppliers added to the framework, with the increased number of small businesses on it championed by Crown Commercial Service (CCS).
However there are elements of spin attached to all this. Last year CSS data revealed that SMEs struggle to win business on the cloud framework against bigger rivals, with a quarter of the total £594 million spent on G-Cloud 10 taken by the usual big suspects.
