A session on how to sell to the public sector will help businesses tap into new opportunities.
It is just one of the events being held as part of York Business Festival, which gets underway on Wednesday.
The first day of the festival features a 'Meet the Buyers' event, hosted by Beth Wallace, CEO of Wallace Consulting.
Panellists include Chloe Wilcox, head of procurement at City of York Council, and Paul Revell, head of commercial strategy at York St John University.
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Mr Revell said: "Our message is that good procurement is about more than price - our tenders might only weight price with 40% of the scoring, so most of the assessment criteria is nothing to do with the price.
"We are looking for suppliers who understand our objectives, can demonstrate value, and are comfortable working collaboratively with us.
"For potential suppliers, my advice is simple: engage early, understand the organisation's priorities, and be clear and evidenced in what you can deliver."
He also emphasised the growing importance of sustainability and ethical business practices.
Mr Revell said: "Sustainability and ethical business practices are no longer 'nice to have' considerations.
"For public sector organisations, they form an important part of how we assess value and manage risk.
Brad Heywood of Clive Owen LLP will be looking at financial resilience for businesses. (Image: Pic supplied)
"Suppliers do not need to be perfect, but they do need to show commitment, transparency and a credible plan for future improvements.
"We are more interested in genuine progress and measurable action than inflated, polished statements."
He offered a recent example from the university.
Mr Revell said: "A recent example is our campus security procurement.
"Students were directly involved in evaluating the bids because they are key users of the service and we should give them a voice.
"The successful supplier demonstrated not only how they would deliver a high-quality service, but also how they could create flexible, part time employment opportunities for York St John students.
"For me, that's a great example of procurement delivering broader value, not just purchasing a service."
He encouraged businesses of all sizes to consider public sector contracts.
Mr Revell said: "I'd encourage businesses not to assume that the public sector only works with large national suppliers.
"In fact, York St John University spends around £35 million with over 1,100 small businesses each year.
"SMEs are a vital part of our supply chain, bringing innovation, flexibility and specialist expertise.
"If you can demonstrate value and understand our needs, there's absolutely a place for you in the public sector marketplace."
Elsewhere in the festival, a workshop on financial resilience will address the ongoing challenges facing businesses, as failures remain high.
Brad Haywood, associate partner at Clive Owen, is hosting the session.
He said: "The workshop will look at the key principles needed to build financial resilience in your business.
"I will be focusing on 5 key areas: actually knowing your numbers, investing wisely for growth, managing risk before it becomes critical, and getting ready for whatever comes next, succession included.
"The core message will be that being financially prudent isn't about playing it safe, it's about giving yourself the choices to invest boldly when the moment's right, while staying strong enough to handle more challenging periods."
The festival continues throughout the week, offering a range of free events aimed at helping businesses in York grow, adapt, and succeed.