Chamber prepares low carbon supply chain

30 January 2012 10:05 Comments (0)

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is assembling a framework of suppliers to offer its 5,200 members approved materials, consultancy and installation services.

The UK's largest chamber is working alongside fellow members of the Manchester family of public-private policy making organisations, including New Economy and Manchester Solutions, to develop the low carbon programme, aimed at adding £650m to the city region's economy.

There will be three fields to the framework: materials, consultancy and installation. An initial survey of interested suppliers will be conducted through a public tender in the Official Journal of the European Union. However, appointments to the framework are not likely to follow this route as it is deemed too costly and complicated for firms. A less arduous tender process will instead be run by Manchester-based procurement manager Valueworks.

The buying power of the chamber's membership is potentially huge, the 5,200 companies have a combined annual turnover of £46bn.The framework will be open to domestic and commercial work. Todd Holden, director of low carbon policy and programmes, said the framework will help businesses improve efficiency and buy with confidence to take advantage of the government's Green Deal and other incentives in the low carbon market.

The number of firms to be appointed has not been set. The approved suppliers are due to be announced in May.