Catering clothing contract stays in Black Country as council pledges to “buy local”

Council bosses said the decision to award the contract to Adesso Industrial Supplies, based in Willenhall, reinforced their pledge to “buy local” and support small businesses when it comes to procuring services.

The firm will supply new high quality uniforms for staff at Himley Hall, as well as workwear for dinnerladies and catering assistants at schools across the borough.

Councillor Simon Phipps (left), cabinet member for procurement, with Adesso managing director Andy Jones (right). Showing off the new uniforms are Julia Evans and Lisa Guest.

Andy Jones, managing director of Adesso Industrial Supplies, said:

We are delighted to be working alongside Dudley Council and hope to provide a second to none service that the authority will find valuable.

We want to justify their faith in dealing with local suppliers, and hope this is the start of a long and fruitful relationship for both parties.

Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for procurement, transformation and commercialisation, said:

As a council we have been very vocal about our desire to keep the cash we spend on contracts in the local area where possible.

This is a clear example of us putting our money where our mouth is, and a number of other deals with local firms are also in the pipeline to follow on the back of this one.

We’ve been trying to work more closely with small businesses in the Black Country and have hosted a number of business open evenings. Andy and his interest in doing business with the council was an instrumental part in expanding our engagement work with local suppliers.

If you own a business in Dudley or the Black Country and want to find out how we might be able to work together, drop us an email and we’ll invite you along to the next one when a date is confirmed.

The council is also currently in talks with a number of local brewers about supplying beers for Dudley Town Hall to follow its £650,000 refurbishment.

Business bosses who want to attend a future open evening with the council can email commercialandprocurement@dudley.gov.uk to express an interest.