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Posted: Tue 6th Oct 2026
6 min read
Jayne had always wanted to work with the public sector, but tendering felt like something built for much bigger businesses.
After joining Supply Connect in spring 2026, the founder of Be Social Marketing Consultancy learnt where to find the right opportunities, how to sharpen her bids and how to apply with confidence.
Within months, she had been awarded two lots on a tender – her first tender contract.
Based in Deeside, Wales, Jayne founded Be Social Marketing Consultancy in 2020. The consultancy offers marketing strategy, social media management and copywriting services.
As a sole trader, Jayne was keen to grow the business by working more closely with the public sector. But before joining Supply Connect, she had no hands-on experience of tendering.
"I'd never used the official tender platform before in the public sector, but I'd always wanted to work more with that sector," says Jayne.
She was aware of online tender platforms, but assumed the contracts listed there were too large for a business of her size. With so many opportunities on a platform as big as Contracts Finder, she also wasn't sure where to start looking.
When asked what was holding her back, her answer is simple:
"Lack of knowledge, exactly that."
Jayne didn't know that larger contracts are often split into smaller lots that businesses can bid for individually. Nor did she realise that, as a very small sole trader, she could apply for them at all.
Supply Connect gives small businesses practical support to strengthen their offer, understand tendering and connect with buyers. Learn more about the programme
Jayne joined Enterprise Nation in spring 2026 and registered for one of its webinars, which happened to be a Supply Connect session. From there, she signed up to Supply Connect and requested one-to-one support from an adviser.
Alongside online training sessions, her one-to-one meetings covered the essentials of tendering.
These included bid writing, how to search for contracts on Contracts Finder, getting clarification on tenders, and how frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems (DPSs) work.
Her adviser showed her that she could register as a supplier on DPSs, and Jayne also registered on the Central Digital Platform. When it came to writing bids, her adviser checked her tender applications and gave feedback on how to strengthen her answers.
Jayne rates the help she received as excellent.
"I feel like my adviser is always there if I need them," she says.
The biggest shift for Jayne was realising that tender platforms aren't only for big companies and that small businesses could apply for individual lots, too.
“I never would have gone looking for those before, and now I'm really active,” she says.
Tendering is now a regular part of her working week.
She says:
"I schedule a time every Friday where I go looking and spend a bit of time researching what lots might be relevant for me, what opportunities are there."
She has also started networking with buyers at Meet the Buyer events, and actively registers for Supply Connect webinars to keep building her knowledge.
Since joining Supply Connect, Jayne has applied for two public-sector tenders.
From the first, she was awarded two lots on a tender. She is now waiting to hear back on her second bid and has also won a new commercial project along the way.
For Jayne, the programme has changed how she sees the public sector entirely.
She would recommend Supply Connect to other small businesses because, as she puts it:
"It's opened my eyes to this world of public sector tendering."
It has also given her the knowledge and confidence to apply for bigger tenders.
Her message to other sole traders is clear: tenders are for small businesses too, not just the big companies.
Public sector contracts aren't just for the big players. With the government actively encouraging SMEs to take part, your business could be exactly what buyers are looking for. Register now
