Frequently Asked Questions
What is Together Gloucestershire (TG)?
It is a ‘Not For Profit’ Social Value project. TG is a part of the business that is Social Value Together Ltd (SVT), and was initiated by Cheltenham and Cirencester Chambers of Commerce, and the FSB, to enable business an increase in business to business purchasing within the county of Gloucestershire.
What makes Together Gloucestershire different from any other database of customer contacts?
Together Gloucestershire was developed in conjunction with, and with support including seed funding from, some of the top businesses in Gloucestershire, and the combined councils within the county. It is very much aligned with their needs, and as such, we expect it will be a significant tool for supplier sourcing for the future within the county.
What are the aims of the Project?
To increase internal investment within Gloucestershire, which will help local, small businesses, to grow, develop, increase employment and training, and reduce the county’s carbon footprint. It is estimated that there could be an influx of £500m+ for every 5% increase in internal county spending.
Who can join Together Gloucestershire?
Any business operating within Gloucestershire with a GL postcode
What does membership include?
As a seller, you get access to the website and can set up a page giving a brief overview of your business, including services/products, location and accreditations. You will also have unique access to training etc. to support your business to acquire work with other local businesses.
As a buyer you will have access to the database, which will enable you to search a given radius for sellers that meet your search criteria. Unlike other searches, there is no other priority in the listing other than that set by yourselves. The suppliers listed have all aligned to the Together Gloucestershire values, and should therefore match your corporate values. Training will be provided to your team on the use of the system, and you will have ongoing support as well as the opportunity to help us grow and enhance the system to better meet your needs.
Some businesses will be set up with both buyer and seller functionality.
Does joining mean I will get business from the larger organisations?
No, however, by joining the TG family, you will be presented to the larger organisations every time they search for a business with criteria that match your business (search radius, products/services). Unlike other searches, business cannot promote themselves by payment or other mechanisms, levelling the playing field for all businesses. Signing up to the TG Pledge also differentiates you from other businesses that may not value ESG and Social Value as highly as our members do.
What if I decide to cancel my membership?
Membership is optional, and should you decide not to join, or should your membership lapse, you will no longer be listed on our database. You’re welcome to start/renew your membership at any time.
Can I use the database without being a member?
The database is solely for the use of members. However, if you would like to get a feel for the type and/number of businesses listed, you can run a search with your chosen criteria. The database will return the number of businesses listed that meet your criteria, but you will not see any of the details of those businesses.
Is there an approval process for businesses to register on the site?
The purpose of the database is for buyers and sellers to find a match, and at that point, decide if they wish to progress further. We would expect and encourage all buyers to ensure your normal due diligence processes are carried. However, any supplier signing up to the TG database will have signed the TG Pledge, so along with their interest in the TG project, there is clear intent from all businesses to meet ethical and social value good practice. This makes the TG search engine and superior, to any found from a random web search
Why would I use Together Gloucestershire rather than search online?
In joining the TG project, and signing up to the database, suppliers (and buyers) are committing to the good ethical and social value standards as outlined in the pledge (The Pledge – Together Gloucestershire). Suppliers on the TG database are unable to promote themselves above any other supplier. Therefore, any search criteria entered into the database returns results on a level playing field. This means that buyers have quick and easy access to all registered local suppliers from a sole trader, to a much larger organisation.
How will the Together Gloucestershire database support my current procurement database/process?
The TG database is designed to complement your current process. Requisitioners (those who have the need for a product/service) within your organisation can easily search local providers and make contact with them to find out more, before approaching procurement with a proposed solution.
Will suppliers ever be removed from the Database?
Yes, although we hope that this will never happen. For the database to function effectively, buyers must have trust and confidence in the suppliers listed, therefore any suppliers that do not meet the standards expected of good business practice, or do not adhere to the commitments made in the TG Pledge, may be removed at the sole discretion of the Directors of SVT (Social Value Together Ltd), the business that operates the TG (Together Gloucestershire) project.
Will organisations that sign up to using this database use it each time they are seeking a new/change of supplier?
Every business has their own procurement policies. The aim of Together Gloucestershire is to increase the level of local procurement; therefore we would expect the database to be used in conjunction with each businesses own process and as often as required.