A Tyneside information system company has launched what is believed to be the UK's first dedicated contract and tender search engine.
Nimis of Newcastle has produced TenderTap, a search engine which organisations can get tailored to suit their members in the hunt for business.
Managing director Nick Mapletoft said: "Nimis works with business and sector support organisations, helping them to develop and deliver their business support strategy.
"TenderTap plays a vital role as it enables organisations to provide tender opportunities and market browsing capability to their members, tailored to their industry sector. Our industry experts and information researchers harvest around 8,000 opportunities every week from across the UK, Europe and USA."
The TenderTap library holds over 1.5 million tender documents and enables users to find out who is buying what, from whom and for how much - and see what business their competitors are winning. This vast collection can now be quickly searched using the new search engine.
Business development company Northern Defence Industries (NDI) successfully piloted the service and has helped to shape the new capabilities.
It was eager to get involved because following the demise of Tyneside shipbuilder Swan Hunter last year there was a large number of marine designers and other marine or defence-related business which had to find new work.
NDI managing director Trevor Harrison said: "For the region's marine design businesses, the centre will provide them with an influential route to market that will give them access to major clients - and major opportunities.
"I'm delighted that North-East companies now have access to the information they need to find work opportunities and make informed decisions as a result."
One company that has benefited from the service is the NETA Training Group, one of the country's leading providers of vocational skills training. Until now they couldn't find an effective way of browsing European and world wide markets for their services.
NETA first used the service to source relevant tender opportunities. It now uses it to browse the UK and all European markets and keep track of competitor activity too.
Neta project manager Philip Cooper said: "We were introduced to the TenderTap service provided through a One NorthEast partner.
"This has allowed us to streamline our efforts: having all the resources we need in one place. I like the fact that the facility is always available, whenever it is convenient for me to use it. It has become an invaluable facility for us. We access new opportunities as they are published and the market analysis tools are a real bonus."