WARMINSTER Chamber of Commerce member Sollerta Ltd has been contracted by Wiltshire County Council to deliver a series of free training events for businesses during March.

The seminars, which will provide advice and guidance on winning public sector contracts, are a product of the ewiltshire SmartBusiness initiative in association with the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce and the Wiltshire and Swindon Rural Regeneration Partnership.

Digby Barker, Warminster-based director of Sollerta, who is leading for the company on the work said: "I regularly deliver public sector procurement training to both buyers and suppliers in major cities across the country and I am pleased that my company has won this opportunity to help businesses nearer home.

"The public sector spends about £120bn a year on goods and services and buys just about anything you can think of, so these events should be of interest to all businesses, regardless of size, shape or sector, that want to ensure that they are positioned to get at least their fair share of this money."

The Wessex Association is hosting the free training sessions which will cover topics including:

  • Public sector procurement rules
  • How and where to find new opportunities l Tender process principles and rules
  • Practical completion of tender documents


Staff from Wiltshire County Council's procurement team will also deliver the sessions alongside Sollerta.

Stefan Barbaruk, manager of the Wessex Association, said: "Wiltshire County Council is eager that local businesses are given guidance on how to trade with local authorities and this is an ideal opportunity to find out how to make the most of future business opportunities."

The sessions will be held on:

  • March 6, Angel Hotel, Chippenham, 8.45am-3pm
  • March 13, Woolley Grange Hotel, Bradford on Avon, 9.30am - 4pm
  • March 20, Red Lion Hotel, Milford St, Salisbury, 9.30am - 4pm.