Countless business owners and operators choose not to target Government opportunities, and one of the reasons is their belief that Government are far too slow to pay their bills. You might be surprised to learn more about this.

Defence opportunities for SMEs can be really challenging to navigate and are often more complex to win. They require some different skill sets not necessarily needed when winning standard Government business.

Businesses that can clearly articulate ‘Value for Money’ have a distinct advantage over those that can’t.

If I had five minutes with this fresh-faced me, what wisdom could I share in the hope that his Government journey was a bit smoother and quicker than my own.

Many factors behind non-conforming submissions are relatively simple, and could’ve been avoided with a smidgen more attention to detail. Let’s take a look into the main reasons behind why so many submissions put to Government don’t conform.

The ‘Big G’ has seen business advisors and media ‘experts’ encourage small businesses to shift their business in often different directions. The trendy word bandied about is ‘pivot’. While pivoting has proven a necessary and successful strategy for some businesses, the majority of small business commentators fail to recognise that most small businesses don’t have the time to see a successful pivot to completion.

Gov Ready’s Managing Director, Thomas Pollock presented at CCIQ’s Olympic Procurement Masterclass at the Brisbane Business Hub.

Mark this date in your calendar - on July 1, 2022, the Queensland Government officially adopts a procurement policy which demands that 30% of every product and service they buy, must be delivered by our small business community.

For many SMEs, the 2032 Olympic Games offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure valuable Government contracts which will likely provide ongoing revenue even after the Games have well and truly ended.

Can you imagine how often Government officials are harassed by eager salespeople hawking their wares in the hope of drinking from that Holy Grail of cups and winning a lucrative Government contract, grant or tender?

Now more than ever Australian small businesses must be open to challenging the norm; mix things up; open new revenue streams previously thought to be out of reach.

I’m often asked these questions from SMEs trying to open Government revenue streams:

• What’s the best way to keep track of the moving parts?

• Is there a best-practice methodology to use as a template?

• What steps should be taken and in what order?