The consultant’s Digital Intelligent Brokerage (DIB) has been launched in conjunction with Wiltshire Council in a bid to find innovations for highways repairs.

All ideas submitted online will be screened automatically using algorithms before being accessed by experts from Atkins.

The DIB approach was initially developed by Atkins and Scottish Water to identify new ideas to help address water supply, quality and pollution challenges affecting rural communities in Scotland.

That project saw over 50,000 SMEs invited to participate resulting in 500 submissions which led to 49 opportunities for Scottish Water to work with SMEs – 77% of whom had never previously worked in the water sector.

Peter Binley, Head of Highways Asset Management, Wiltshire Council, said: “Wiltshire, like many other areas across the UK, faces a pothole challenge which needs to be addressed.

“By using the DIB, we believe we can get access to a wider pool of suppliers who offer unique solutions and different insights as we look to tackle a well documented problem.”

Dr Arthur Thornton, Associate Director at Atkins and DIB innovator, said: “Small organisations are often at the forefront of both product and digital innovation across the country but taking that innovation to industry challenges can be a problem when engaging in procurement processes.

“The Atkins approach is respectful of the SME’s time and provides an efficient platform for them to offer their technical capabilities and express how they would like to work with our clients.”

Interested firms can submit their ideas here.