2.19 In June 2011, the Cabinet Office formed the SME panel "to hold our [government's] feet to the fire" and advise it on work to help SMEs.14 The panel consists of 24 SMEs. Most panel members are from small IT or consultancy businesses, based in London and the South East. Between 2011 and 2015, the panel met around 14 times. It set up subgroups on pre-market engagement, late payments and consortiums to help the government better understand the barriers that prevent SMEs bidding for government contracts.
2.20 The panel has not met since January 2015. In September 2015, the CCS reviewed the structure and focus of the SME panel. It intends to broaden the representation on the panel, to include a wider range of sectors and a broader geographical area.
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14 Cabinet Office, Annex A SME Progress Report: Making government procurement more accessible to SMEs, March 2012.