Useful Internet Sites

2. Suppliers

Sourcing products and services from Britain and further afield has been made faster and easier by the World Wide Web.

2.1 There is a comprehensive, searchable list of more than 1.7 million UK businesses, broken down into over 2,500 distinct classifications, at the Yell.com site from Yellow Pages.

2.2 Another way to locate UK suppliers is by using some of the searchable databases that are mainly intended to promote exports.

• UK Trade & Investment's database of suppliers is an impressive source (see 6.2).

2.3 Major overseas reference resources can be accessed instantly.

• For example, the Thomas Global Register Europe gives you free access to a searchable directory of over 210,000 industrial suppliers. A sister website, www.thomasnet.com, covers 170,000 US and Canadian manufacturers.
• The Purchasing Research Service provides sector-by-sector supplier listings and news items.

2.4 It is worth investigating the industry-specific clearing-house sites that have sprung up.

These specialised sites can provide a forum for deals that would not otherwise happen.

• The Applegate Directory covers suppliers in the electronics, engineering and plastics sectors.
• The Used Equipment Network offers secondhand plant and machinery - from aircraft to x-ray machines - covering more than 75,000 items from more than 10,000 dealers.
• The Virtual Garment Centre brings together fashion and textile trade suppliers, brokers and buyers from all over the world.
• FreeCargo is a freight and haulage capacity exchange, bringing together truckers and loads in Britain and across most of Europe.
• QXL is a UK auction site that has found a niche as an outlet for IT manufacturers' end-of-range bargains.

2.5 Many recruitment agencies have websites advertising jobs, but only a few allow you to search through a range of candidates.

• For access to a commercial database of over 100,000 CVs, searchable by salary, location, experience and qualifications, visit PeopleBank.