- PBTI Managing Director William Fox
The English remanufacturer has stated its disappointment at Somerset councils for not supporting local businesses and buying cheap consumables from Asia.
The company, based in Haydon near Wells in Somerset, told Wells People that it is disappointed at two of three local councils inquired about their use of consumables, particularly as a lack of supporting local businesses.
PBTI’s Managing Director William Fox asked the three councils where they purchased their cartridges from, finding that only one of the councils would be open to using its products.
He added: “Sedgmoor District Council gave me the best response and have shown themselves very open to looking at what we have on offer. Somerset County Council only buys original cartridges rather than recycled, which is much more expensive, and we’ve had very little response from Mendip District Council.
“It seems a pity that when they have a local company on their doorstep they’re not being more supportive, particularly when you think about the loss of manufacturing jobs in Wells. We would hope that local organisations would support local businesses because for every 5,000 cartridges we sell, that’s another 10 new jobs for Wells.”
Local MP “cannot see why” local companies should be ignored
PBTI’s anger earned the support of local MP Tessa Munt, after she was shown around its factory. Munt later met with Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude to discuss Parliament’s purchasing policies, and is planning to write to the other two councils to try and change their purchasing policies to buy more green products.
Munt stated: “All the printing and copying done in council offices, government departments, and by public and civil servants, is paid for through our taxes. The least we should expect is that where
- Tessa Munt, MP for Wells in Somerset
small and medium-sized businesses – just like PBTI – can meet the need for quality, quantity and price, they should be the preferred supplier.
“I cannot see why our local authorities and Government officers shouldn’t change their purchasing policies to buy ‘green’, reduce waste and buy locally.”
Somerset County Council said in response that they “use a company based in England” for their consumables, and that “almost every supplier sources their printer products from overseas.
“If a local Somerset company feels they can offer us a competitive rate, we’re more than happy to hear from them and ask them to approach us. They would then need to take part in a competitive tendering process for our contract.”
Mendip District Council added that through a contract for its IT they “jointly procure printers and cartridges” from an “ISO accredited” organisation, noting they “will not be looking to renew the printer/cartridge contract until 2013” only using “on average…around 10 to 15 ink cartridges a month” .