What's the Purpose of Government Online?

There are two main rationales behind Government Online. One is to provide comprehensive, accurate information to the public and private sectors, and the other is to link public sector buyers to private sector suppliers.

What do you Mean by Public Sector?

Our definition of the public sector includes local, regional and central government, the MOD, the NHS, Higher Education colleges and universities, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and various other organisations associated with the workings of government.

How is Government Online Structured?

Government Online is divided into two sites - an Open and a Secure Site. The Open Site contains popular information relevant to the general user, whilst the Secure Site contains a considerable amount of data compiled for the needs of public and private sector clients. Subscribers can access numerous databases to aid interagency communication and to locate public sector business opportunities. The Secure Site is an integral part of Government Online Information Services. To find out more please contact us.

Who uses Government Online?

Public Sector

Public sector employees who need a comprehensive information resource for interagency communication and benchmarking - government personnel who need to implement jointed-up working for improved efficiency and service delivery to the general public. Their requirement is accurate database resources to which they can can turn on a daily basis without complicated searching or without onerous subscription demands. Our service is free for them to use, it's accurate and efficient; once a username and password has been provided they can utilise the service as much or as little as they like, they can remain logged in or logged out as is their requirement, but yet have the benefit of extensive public sector databases at their fingertips, and also updated details of suppliers in their area to which they can turn when they have a high or low level purchasing requirement. All Government Online Registered Suppliers have a broad understanding of the government marketplace and are committed to providing quality products and services to the public sector to facilitate service delivery across the UK government.

Private Sector

Private Sector companies utilise Government Online as part of their ongoing sales and marketing campaigns. The databases in the Secure Site offer a convenient means of locating key decision-makers; the new tailored database service allows them to access specially created databases (eg UK local government Chief Executives) in a quick and efficient manner. Multiple users are not precluded from accessing the site, and thus specific sales campaigns can be structured with the active input of several company employees rather than one. As an essential component of Government Online Information Services, the tender and database services provided offline complement usage of the Secure Site. Becoming a Government Online Registered Supplier can also have major benefits in raising the profile of our clients in the awareness of decision-making officials, and in projecting their companies expertise in the government marketplace.

How do public sector employees find out about Government Online?

There are a variety of ways in which public sector employees find out about Government Online. One is the same as that of many of our visitors - by using a search engine to locate public sector information. The other is via our update procedure. Inevitably, to update our databases (which total over 20,000 contacts in all) we have to communicate with many government bodies; and in doing so we try to communicate the benefits of the free service we can offer to public sector employees. Since there are no constraints on the usage of our Secure Site many officials take out a free subscription. Further marketing campaigns on our part also help raise the usership of the site.

What are the benefits of using Government Online for Public Sector Employees

For many issues public sector officials have set rules by which they must abide. One aspect of this is a requirement for liaison and communication between themselves, counterparts and seniors in other organisations - interagency communication - to share successful working practises and to benchmark procedures covering policy and procurement. Government Online offers a useful information resource unincumbered by bureaucratic and cost constraints to enable them to get their job done, and do it well. It is a benefitical service free of charge. Our information resources are also some of the most comprehensive and detailed available.

As a Public Sector Employee, if I take out a free subscription will I receive lots of spam e-mail?

No. We will merely send one e-mail to you once per month informing you of the updates to the site. Your e-mail address will not be divulged to third parties. We will obey the terms of the Data Protection Act.

What services do you offer to companies that want to sell to the public sector?

• Tender and Contract Information. Contracts at all levels in the public sector


• Database Services. Including the provision of tailored databases created from our current database resources (local, regional and central government, MOD, Higher Education, and major parts of the NHS)


• Pre-Qualified Supplier Information. Information on becoming a registered supplier to public sector organisations.


• Practical Advice and Guidance on Public Sector Marketing and Sales Campaigns

To find out more regarding Government Online Information Services please contact us. Our aim is to offer a complete service of benefit to any company that works in, or would like to work in, the public sector.

Why don't don't you provide one service on its own?

There isn't a single method that suits every company for successfully selling into the public sector. Most companies that work in the marketplace utilise a multifaceted approach to get their message across to key decision-makers, and we encourage our clients to do likewise. Through experience one discovers the path that produces the most satisfactory results.

Is the public sector a market for my company?

The answer to that question will obviously depend on the services your company provides, however there's a place for most companies in the public sector, as the latter requires the the supply of an enormous number of products and services to meet its everyday needs. It always needs to be borne in mind that the government market is the biggest purchaser of goods and services in the UK.

Do I have to pay?

If you represent a public sector organisation (unless you have a requirement for the offline provision of databases), no. If you represent a private sector organisation, yes. But you will find that Government Online Information Services is extremely economical, and - if the number of business opportunities provided over the course of a year's subscription is to be the guide - offers an impressive return on investment.

What are the benefits of selling to the public sector?

Access to a truly vast marketplace, with guaranteed payment and very strong customer loyalty. Successful suppliers often find that one satisfied client leads to another, because word of mouth in the public sector - as is inevitably the case if procurement officials liaise with their counterparts on a daily basis and benchmark numerous projects for the sake of corporate efficiency - is extremely powerful.

Isn't it all bound up in red tape?

The short answer to that is no. With the abolition of the Compulsory Competitive Tendering policy, the introduction of Best Value, the Modernising Government programme and Electronic Service Delivery many of the barriers to doing business with public sector organisations have been removed. If you have specific questions relating to this point please contact us.

FAQs Continued