Following a challenging 2022 dominated by inflation, local authorities are sensibly developing their plans for this year with a degree of budgetary caution. The economic forecast for 2023 is mixed at best, and maintaining healthy local communities is rightly top of the agenda for local leaders across the country.

With SMEs being integral to regional economies and communities in the services, employment, and prosperity they provide, they will no doubt be crucial to local authorities' goals. But a recent report has revealed that Whitehall is expected to miss its goal of placing one-third of all its procurement spend with small to medium-sized businesses by the end of 2022, according to The Federation of Small Businesses.