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The aim of the paper is to examine the support mechanisms that exist for small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland and how access to government contracts can be improved for SMEs. The paper will investigate the rationale for SME involvement in public procurement, as well as drawing upon a series of interviews carried out with government suppliers in Northern Ireland. This paper concludes that even though there are support mechanisms for SMEs at both a UK and at a European level, government tendering procedures need to be simplified to ensure easier access to contracts for SMEs.