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

Tender description

External Communications and Professional Services Framework Agreement This notice for information and interest to be included in our Framework Agreement. All suppliers interested will need to be registered on Achilles. Additional question will be issued through Achilles to qualify and go through to Tender. The Framework tender will be split into Lots and once the framework is in place, we will run mini competions within each Lot as an when work is required. The Lots have been split into the below headings and is to provide various levels of consultancy and professional services to support internal staff with Communication projects. Lots: Stakeholder Engagement and Consultancy; Market Research and Analysis; PR/Marketing Services; Materials, print and production; Event management; Training; Digital Services. We are looking for suppliers to work with us on strategic projects covering: · Strategic planning; · Stakeholder Engagement; · Consumer Vulnerability; · Customer Experience. You will need to demonstrate experience of the above areas at a strategic level within a diverse, complex organisation. Work within these areas would include, but not be limited to: · Business planning and prioritisation; · Visioning and future planning; · Gap analysis and benchmarking; · Stakeholder and user journey mapping and process improvement; · Provision of political intelligence services and resources to engage political stakeholders; · Adoption and embedding of stakeholder engagement practices; · Assessing internal practices and industry best practices; · Recommendations on developments and enhancements; · Guidance on creative input to support overall engagement strategy; · Developing innovative and effective approaches to stakeholder and customer experience engagement. We are looking for research suppliers to work with us on a range of quantitative and qualitative research projects across a wide range of stakeholder groups at both a strategical and tactical level. You will need to demonstrate experience of a variety of research methods which align with the differing characteristics of our stakeholder groups, general customer base and specific vulnerable customers. Research projects would include, but not be limited to understanding: · the levels of importance various stakeholder and customer groups place on our business priority areas; · what our stakeholder groups would be willing to pay more for; · what additional support our vulnerable customers may need during a power cut/while accessing our services; · designing the optimum customer experience across all service channels; · how various stakeholder, vulnerable customers and general customer groups prefer to be engaged with; · what our stakeholder groups prefer to be engaged in / and why; · perceptions / levels of understanding and awareness about a DNO. We are looking for suppliers to work with us on a range of brand and marketing projects at both a strategic and tactical level covering: 1. Brand; 2. Marketing; 3. Public Relations; 4. Media Buying; 5. Photographic Services; 6. Audio and Visual Equipment Services. You will need to be able to demonstrate experience of one or more of the above areas at a strategic and tactical level within a complex and diverse organisation. Experience of working with utilities is not essential, but is desirable. Work within these areas would include, but not be limited to: 1. Brand: · Corporate and visual identity, brand strategy and development, brand frameworks and hierarchy, visual / creative development, proposition development, messaging and content, brand guidelines, tone of voice, language, etc 2. Marketing: · Marketing strategy, (incl digital), marketing plans, integrated targeted communications campaigns (on and off line), campaign creatives, understand audiences and channels, clear measurement / return on investment tools; · Experienced support in design and copy writing of corporate literature, adverts (traditional and digital) branding and brand guidelines, email templates, brochures, flyers. 3. Public Relations: — Provision of individual campaign support or longer term retained PR services, devising and delivering PR/communications campaigns (including social media), drafting press release/copy/publication content, media management with the ability to write for a variety of stakeholder audiences often dealing with technical content: · Media coverage reports across print, broadcast and online media both via email and media monitoring platform, clear reporting structures (dashboards / analytical tools), measurement / return on investment tools; · Sourcing supplier of a media management platform which can manage media statements, enquiries and requests and provide comprehensive media contacts database and tools to monitor for PR engagement and distribution; · Suppliers may also be required to demonstrate ability to provide online news room and photo library services; · A proven track record of producing successful award submissions also required; · Knowledge/links with energy media would be advantageous and close working partnerships with media outlets in Northern Powergrid's operating area also advantageous. 4. Media Buying · Detailed scheduling and buying media space, access to broad range of media channels (traditional, TV, Radio, Outdoor and digital), understanding audience metrics, targeting channels to audiences, competitive buying capability irrespective of the channels selected and volume acquired. 5. Photographic Services: · Photographer and videographer with experience of operational and corporate photography, facility to provide time-lapse and aerial photograph; · Experience of working in safety critical environments (desirable). 6. Audio and Visual Equipment Services: · Producing and managing audio and visual presentations. We are looking for suppliers to work with us to produce corporate branded materials with ability to turnaround orders quickly and offer competitive rates for both large and smaller batch order. Materials would include, but not be limited to: · promotional merchandise; · publications, leaflets; · banner stands; · posters; · character costumes; · service awards. We are looking for suppliers to work with us on project management, scoping, planning, and delivery of a range of stakeholder and customer related events, seminars, exhibitions and conferences, outdoor events, roadshows, etc. You will need to demonstrate experience of managing and delivering small and large scale events, which would include, but not be limited to delivering: · professional branded staging suitable and appropriate to the event in question; · additional event branding; · PA and sound equipment; · technical personnel to produce and manage audio and visual presentations; · management and production on the day of the event. Within this we would also require; 1. Photographer and videographer with experience of operational and corporate photography. To include: · The ability to make imagery available to the client on the same day; · The ability to edit/enhance image if required; · Facility to provide time-lapse and aerial photography; · Experience of working in safety critical environments (desirable). We are looking for suppliers to work with us on a range of training requirements across a number of different areas and at all levels. You will need to demonstrate experience within a diverse and complex organisation and draw on industry best practices. You will also need to demonstrate that you can delivery training in a variety of ways to suit differing audiences (including telephone, face to face, online, full day programmes, 1-2 hour refresher programmes, etc). Training would include, but not be limited to: · Marketing communications (copywriting and editing, direct marketing etc); · Comprehensive Media Training programmes, (at all levels, including the Executive Board) offering professional media guidance and experience of telephone, radio and TV interviews; · Crisis Management training provision (eg Emergency Planning); · Consumer vulnerability training linked to organisational engagement strategy delivered to target groups of individuals based on their roles within the organisation; · Skills and capabilities training and development (including time management, leadership skills). Experience of training safety critical and energy industry providers advantageous. We are looking for suppliers to work with us on a range of strategic and tactical digital projects. You will need to demonstrate experience of working with a complex and diverse organisation and demonstrate innovative approaches within the digital landscape to ensure we remain relevant and up to date. Work would include, but not be limited to: · Website user journeys and needs for customers visiting all levels of the website, to ensure an optimised experience for the different sub sets of customers (including employees); · Website design and development of the look and feel; · Website navigation and structure build; · Ease of self serve for web transaction services; · Developing a consistent digital user experience; · Social media strategy and management; · Social media platform services/tools; · SEO, GPS and browser recognition etc; · Development of apps, interactive maps and tools; · Developing e-marketing tools and campaigns.