Public Relations Services for Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Tender description

The Switchover Help Scheme (the “Help Scheme”) is run by the BBC, through an agreement with the UK Government to offer practical help at switchover to older and disabled people who face greater barriers in switching to digital television. This is part of a wider five-year programme to switch TV broadcasting from analogue to digital. In the run-up to switchover in each region, every person eligible to get help under the Help Scheme – an estimated 7 million households - will be offered help to convert one of their TV sets to digital. Key stakeholders for the Help Scheme include Government departments, Parliamentarians, and national and local third sector and consumer organisations representing Help Scheme recipients. The BBC has established a wholly owned subsidiary, DSHS Limited, to administer the Help Scheme. The communications function is distinct from marketing and is delivered through a core DSHS Limited team and through Help Scheme operational delivery partners including Digital UK and eaga PLC. DSHS Limited has a need for PR services to supplement the existing communications roles and to enhance its ability to meet public accountability needs. The requirements include: - A retained team consisting of a highly experienced agency partner and supporting professional(s). The retained team will support the internal team on various strategic and operational communications matters to be agreed and updated from time to time. This effort is expected to be of the order of 5 days per month, with a blend of at least 20% Partner-level input; and - A contingency arrangement to undertake specific communications projects and workload overflow. This element may not be guaranteed, but could be of the order of 150 days per year.