Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Tender description

Essex County Council, working in partnership across Essex, South Essex and East Sussex, seeks a provider/s to deliver the ‘South East INVEST’ Inward Investment service, with the aim of increasing trade and attracting investment into these areas. This notice is not a call for competition. Interested parties may express an interest in delivering either lot or both lots. A suitably experienced and qualified provider is required to deliver Inward Investment and Enterprise Centre provision on behalf of Essex County Council and partners across the Greater Essex area including within the Unitary Authorities of Southend on Sea Borough Council and Thurrock Council. The contract will run for a period of three years, commencing in April 2017. The contractor will deliver a clear programme to attract inward investment and support incoming or growing businesses and to also provide a high-quality Integrated Inward Investment & Enterprise Centre service. Provision will support both the attraction of new investment to Essex as well as assisting existing Essex-based businesses to develop and grow, providing signposting to linked providers, promoting affordable start-up rental space and developing strong linkages between SME's and larger business to deliver further investment to the County. The activity of the Inward Investment and Enterprise Centre service, all aspects of which will be delivered by the contactor, will focus on working to secure Inward Investment, supporting the growth and development of supply chains and of SME's through the following activities; — Sector focused Place Marketing including Enterprise Zones, Gateway Ports, Assisted Areas and Growth Corridors. — Delivery of an intelligence-led and data analysis programme. — Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Direct Inward Investment Support focussed on key growth markets. — Innovation and Supply Chain support targeted at pre-growth and high-growth companies & supply chain support. — Business relocation, retention and after care service. — Enhanced supply-side marketing. — Aligned Working with the SELEP Growth-Hub Network. — Aligned working with the Foreign Inward Investment Kent Project. — Delivery of the Essex Enterprise Centre Provision. A suitably experienced and qualified provider is required to deliver Inward Investment provision on behalf of East Sussex County Council and partners across the East Sussex County Council area, for a period of three years, commencing in April 2017. Through this contract the successful bidder will deliver a clear programme to attract inward investment which will include a package of ‘soft-landing’ support to businesses through the provision of a Business Grants Scheme. Provision will support both the attraction of new investment to East Sussex as well as assisting existing businesses to develop and grow through signposting to related support services and development of strong linkages between SME's and larger business to deliver further investment to the County. The Inward Investment service, all aspects of which will be delivered by the contactor, will focus on: 1. Enhanced Place Marketing including Enterprise Zones, Gateway Ports, Assisted Areas and Growth Corridors, including materials and attendance at events. 2. Increased intelligence and data analysis. 3. Foreign Direct Investment focussed on key growth markets. 4. Innovation and Supply Chain support. 5. Business relocation after care service. 6. ‘Soft-landing’ support including grant funding where appropriate. 7. Supply side marketing. In addition, the provider will be required to deliver tailored soft-landings' packages, as appropriate, to include financial incentives (in East Sussex, where local needs dictate that additional sources of grant funding are required, the grants programme will be a key tool), market and local information and intelligence. Business Growth Grants of between 10 000 GBP — 40 000 GBP will be available.