A free online public procurement course has been launched by small business minister Lord Davies and the chief secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne.

The free nationally available online training course, ‘Winning the Contract’, instructs participants on how to identify business opportunities to supply goods and services to the public sector, explains public procurement process. It is aimed at helping small business bid for £220bn worth of public sector contracts awarded each year and demonstrates how to submit tenders.

It also offers helpful hints and tips to guide and inform businesses on the bidding process, and where to find public sector contract opportunities.

Trade, investment and small business minister Lord Davies says: “Small and medium-sized businesses already sell their goods and services to the public sector, but many more could do so. Opening up public sector procurement to a wider range of suppliers provides new opportunities for small businesses as the UK economy heads towards growth.”