Business development consultancy services

Tender description

Growth Platform wishes to engage Brokerage Partners covering each of the 6 local authority areas of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. In addition, we are seeking a specialist broker to engage harder to reach groups including women, BAME groups and social economy businesses across the City Region. A focus for Growth Platform going forward is the engagement of businesses that have not been engaged with the Local Growth Hub Service or its services previously in order to increase the reach of Local Growth Hubs and subsequently Growth Platform. Suppliers will need to be able to flex and adapt to Growth Platform’s and Local Authority Growth Directors responses to Covid-19 should these alter throughout the duration of the contract. We would expect the successful suppliers to liaise and work with Local Authority Growth Directors and Economic Development teams in their contracted areas to ensure they are aligned with local priorities. In addition to attracting new businesses, local growth hub brokerage partners will be expected as a minimum to undertake the following: • encourage business resilience and adaptation as a response to Covid-19; • support businesses with getting back to work; • promotion of Growth Platform services, in particular, Growth Platforms suite of business support programmes and LCR ERDF funded projects; • Marketing of the local growth hub and its services; • maintain accurate and comprehensive records on the Growth Platform CRM Portal in ‘real time’; • provide monthly delivery reports on activities including, events delivered, issues raised, issues resolved and issues to be escalated; • provide weekly intelligence reports detailing the specific issues that businesses convey as barriers including those relating to Covid; 19 and EU exit, identify emerging issues/trends in respect of potential economic shock; • collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners; • mapping of business support services; • provision of business information; • business pre start, start up and growth diagnostic; • identification on high growth potential/scale up businesses; • provision/facilitation of business networks; • any other necessary required ancillary services. The above will be delivered under 2 levels of interventions, detailed below: Light touch (< 1 hour)– transactional interactions with Growth Hub Brokerage Partners which do not consume significant dedicated resource. Examples: • telephone enquiries and basic signposting; • face-to-face appointments (involving very light-touch diagnostics); • web-based interactions (e.g. contact form, user registration to members area, use of live chat, online diagnostic tools, message through social media) Only interactive actions should be counted – not passive actions like web page views; • Attendance at Growth Platform organised events, festivals, conferences or pop-ups etc. (NB these are large events that deliver high-level information around business support/advice options. They are not more intensive workshops.); • other contact medium not listed above Medium intensity – interactions which use moderate resource (approximately 1-hour plus) and which broadly aligns with the point in the customer journey at which Growth Platform start collecting basic firm-level data. Examples: • business diagnostic with a broker; business attendance at a support workshop (diagnostic will be provided by Growth Platform. Suppliers wishing to use their own will need prior authorisation from Growth Platform); • referral to business support schemes and programmes (local and national). This should be an informed brokerage and introduction to the appropriate business support service. In addition to attracting new businesses, local growth hub brokerage partners will be expected as a minimum to undertake the following: • encourage business resilience and adaptation as a response to Covid-19; • support businesses with getting back to work; • promotion of Growth Platform services, in particular, Growth Platforms suite of business support programmes and LCR ERDF funded projects; • marketing of the local growth hub and its services; • maintain accurate and comprehensive records on the Growth Platform CRM Portal in ‘real time’; • provide monthly delivery reports on activities including, events delivered, issues raised, issues resolved and issues to be escalated • provide weekly intelligence reports detailing the specific issues that businesses convey as barriers including those relating to Covid-19 and EU exit, identify emerging issues/trends in respect of potential economic shock; • collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners; • mapping of business support services; • provision of business information; • business pre-start, start up and growth diagnostic; • identification on high growth potential/scale up businesses; • provision/facilitation of business networks; • any other necessary required ancillary services. The above will be delivered under 2 levels of interventions, detailed below: Light touch (< 1 hour)– transactional interactions with growth hub brokerage partners which do not consume significant dedicated resource. Examples: • telephone enquiries and basic signposting; • face-to-face appointments (involving very light-touch diagnostics); • web-based interactions (e.g. contact form, user registration to members area, use of live chat, online diagnostic tools, message through social media). Only interactive actions should be counted – not passive actions like web page views; • attendance at Growth Platform organised events, festivals, conferences or pop-ups etc. (NB these are large events that deliver high-level information around business support/advice options. They are not more intensive workshops.); • other contact medium not listed above Medium intensity – interactions which use moderate resource (approximately 1-hour plus) and which broadly aligns with the point in the customer journey at which Growth Platform start collecting basic firm-level data. Examples: • business diagnostic with a broker; business attendance at a support workshop (diagnostic will be provided by Growth Platform. Suppliers wishing to use their own will need prior authorisation from Growth Platform). • referral to business support schemes and programmes (local and national). This should be an informed brokerage and introduction to the appropriate business support service. In addition to attracting new businesses, local growth hub brokerage partners will be expected as a minimum to undertake the following: • encourage business resilience and adaptation as a response to Covid-19; • support businesses with getting back to work; • promotion of Growth Platform services, in particular, Growth Platforms suite of business support programmes and LCR ERDF funded projects; • marketing of the local growth hub and its services; • maintain accurate and comprehensive records on the Growth Platform CRM Portal in ‘real time’; • provide monthly delivery reports on activities including, events delivered, issues raised, issues resolved and issues to be escalated • provide weekly intelligence reports detailing the specific issues that businesses convey as barriers including those relating to Covid-19 and EU exit, identify emerging issues/trends in respect of potential economic shock; • collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners; • mapping of business support services; • provision of business information; • business pre-start, start up and growth diagnostic; • identification on high growth potential/scale up businesses; • provision/facilitation of business networks; • any other necessary required ancillary services. The above will be delivered under 2 levels of interventions, detailed below: Light touch (< 1 hour)– transactional interactions with growth hub brokerage partners which do not consume significant dedicated resource. Examples: • telephone enquiries and basic signposting; • face-to-face appointments (involving very light-touch diagnostics); • web-based interactions (e.g. contact form, user registration to members area, use of live chat, online diagnostic tools, message through social media). Only interactive actions should be counted – not passive actions like web page views; • attendance at Growth Platform organised events, festivals, conferences or pop-ups etc. (NB these are large events that deliver high-level information around business support/advice options. They are not more intensive workshops.); • other contact medium not listed above Medium intensity – interactions which use moderate resource (approximately 1-hour plus) and which broadly aligns with the point in the customer journey at which Growth Platform start collecting basic firm-level data. Examples: • business diagnostic with a broker; business attendance at a support workshop (diagnostic will be provided by Growth Platform. Suppliers wishing to use their own will need prior authorisation from Growth Platform). • referral to business support schemes and programmes (local and national). This should be an informed brokerage and introduction to the appropriate business support service. In addition to attracting new businesses, local growth hub brokerage partners will be expected as a minimum to undertake the following: • encourage business resilience and adaptation as a response to Covid-19; • support businesses with getting back to work; • promotion of Growth Platform services, in particular, Growth Platforms suite of business support programmes and LCR ERDF funded projects; • marketing of the local growth hub and its services; • maintain accurate and comprehensive records on the Growth Platform CRM Portal in ‘real time’; • provide monthly delivery reports on activities including, events delivered, issues raised, issues resolved and issues to be escalated • provide weekly intelligence reports detailing the specific issues that businesses convey as barriers including those relating to Covid-19 and EU exit, identify emerging issues/trends in respect of potential economic shock; • collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners; • mapping of business support services; • provision of business information; • business pre-start, start up and growth diagnostic; • identification on high growth potential/scale up businesses; • provision/facilitation of business networks; • any other necessary required ancillary services. The above will be delivered under 2 levels of interventions, detailed below: Light touch (< 1 hour)– transactional interactions with growth hub brokerage partners which do not consume significant dedicated resource. Examples: • telephone enquiries and basic signposting; • face-to-face appointments (involving very light-touch diagnostics); • web-based interactions (e.g. contact form, user registration to members area, use of live chat, online diagnostic tools, message through social media). Only interactive actions should be counted – not passive actions like web page views; • attendance at Growth Platform organised events, festivals, conferences or pop-ups etc. (NB these are large events that deliver high-level information around business support/advice options. They are not more intensive workshops.); • other contact medium not listed above Medium intensity – interactions which use moderate resource (approximately 1-hour plus) and which broadly aligns with the point in the customer journey at which Growth Platform start collecting basic firm-level data. Examples: • business diagnostic with a broker; business attendance at a support workshop (diagnostic will be provided by Growth Platform. Suppliers wishing to use their own will need prior authorisation from Growth Platform). • referral to business support schemes and programmes (local and national). This should be an informed brokerage and introduction to the appropriate business support service. In addition to attracting new businesses, local growth hub brokerage partners will be expected as a minimum to undertake the following: • encourage business resilience and adaptation as a response to Covid-19; • support businesses with getting back to work; • promotion of Growth Platform services, in particular, Growth Platforms suite of business support programmes and LCR ERDF funded projects; • marketing of the local growth hub and its services; • maintain accurate and comprehensive records on the Growth Platform CRM Portal in ‘real time’; • provide monthly delivery reports on activities including, events delivered, issues raised, issues resolved and issues to be escalated • provide weekly intelligence reports detailing the specific issues that businesses convey as barriers including those relating to Covid-19 and EU exit, identify emerging issues/trends in respect of potential economic shock; • collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners; • mapping of business support services; • provision of business information; • business pre-start, start up and growth diagnostic; • identification on high growth potential/scale up businesses; • provision/facilitation of business networks; • any other necessary required ancillary services. The above will be delivered under 2 levels of interventions, detailed below: Light touch (< 1 hour)– transactional interactions with growth hub brokerage partners which do not consume significant dedicated resource. Examples: • telephone enquiries and basic signposting; • face-to-face appointments (involving very light-touch diagnostics); • web-based interactions (e.g. contact form, user registration to members area, use of live chat, online diagnostic tools, message through social media). Only interactive actions should be counted – not passive actions like web page views; • attendance at Growth Platform organised events, festivals, conferences or pop-ups etc. (NB these are large events that deliver high-level information around business support/advice options. They are not more intensive workshops.); • other contact medium not listed above Medium intensity – interactions which use moderate resource (approximately 1-hour plus) and which broadly aligns with the point in the customer journey at which Growth Platform start collecting basic firm-level data. Examples: • business diagnostic with a broker; business attendance at a support workshop (diagnostic will be provided by Growth Platform. Suppliers wishing to use their own will need prior authorisation from Growth Platform). • referral to business support schemes and programmes (local and national). This should be an informed brokerage and introduction to the appropriate business support service. In addition to attracting new businesses, local growth hub brokerage partners will be expected as a minimum to undertake the following: • encourage business resilience and adaptation as a response to Covid-19; • support businesses with getting back to work; • promotion of Growth Platform services, in particular, Growth Platforms suite of business support programmes and LCR ERDF funded projects; • marketing of the local growth hub and its services; • maintain accurate and comprehensive records on the Growth Platform CRM Portal in ‘real time’; • provide monthly delivery reports on activities including, events delivered, issues raised, issues resolved and issues to be escalated • provide weekly intelligence reports detailing the specific issues that businesses convey as barriers including those relating to Covid-19 and EU exit, identify emerging issues/trends in respect of potential economic shock; • collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners; • mapping of business support services; • provision of business information; • business pre-start, start up and growth diagnostic; • identification on high growth potential/scale up businesses; • provision/facilitation of business networks; • any other necessary required ancillary services. The above will be delivered under 2 levels of interventions, detailed below: Light touch (< 1 hour)– transactional interactions with growth hub brokerage partners which do not consume significant dedicated resource. Examples: • telephone enquiries and basic signposting; • face-to-face appointments (involving very light-touch diagnostics); • web-based interactions (e.g. contact form, user registration to members area, use of live chat, online diagnostic tools, message through social media). Only interactive actions should be counted – not passive actions like web page views; • attendance at Growth Platform organised events, festivals, conferences or pop-ups etc. (NB these are large events that deliver high-level information around business support/advice options. They are not more intensive workshops.); • other contact medium not listed above Medium intensity – interactions which use moderate resource (approximately 1-hour plus) and which broadly aligns with the point in the customer journey at which Growth Platform start collecting basic firm-level data. Examples: • business diagnostic with a broker; business attendance at a support workshop (diagnostic will be provided by Growth Platform. Suppliers wishing to use their own will need prior authorisation from Growth Platform). • referral to business support schemes and programmes (local and national). This should be an informed brokerage and introduction to the appropriate business support service. In addition to attracting new businesses, local growth hub brokerage partners will be expected as a minimum to undertake the following: • encourage business resilience and adaptation as a response to Covid-19; • support businesses with getting back to work; • promotion of Growth Platform services, in particular, Growth Platforms suite of business support programmes and LCR ERDF funded projects; • marketing of the local growth hub and its services; • maintain accurate and comprehensive records on the Growth Platform CRM Portal in ‘real time’; • provide monthly delivery reports on activities including, events delivered, issues raised, issues resolved and issues to be escalated • provide weekly intelligence reports detailing the specific issues that businesses convey as barriers including those relating to Covid-19 and EU exit, identify emerging issues/trends in respect of potential economic shock; • collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners; • mapping of business support services; • provision of business information; • business pre-start, start up and growth diagnostic; • identification on high growth potential/scale up businesses; • provision/facilitation of business networks; • any other necessary required ancillary services. The above will be delivered under 2 levels of interventions, detailed below: Light touch (< 1 hour)– transactional interactions with growth hub brokerage partners which do not consume significant dedicated resource. Examples: • telephone enquiries and basic signposting; • face-to-face appointments (involving very light-touch diagnostics); • web-based interactions (e.g. contact form, user registration to members area, use of live chat, online diagnostic tools, message through social media). Only interactive actions should be counted – not passive actions like web page views; • attendance at Growth Platform organised events, festivals, conferences or pop-ups etc. (NB these are large events that deliver high-level information around business support/advice options. They are not more intensive workshops.); • other contact medium not listed above Medium intensity – interactions which use moderate resource (approximately 1-hour plus) and which broadly aligns with the point in the customer journey at which Growth Platform start collecting basic firm-level data. Examples: • business diagnostic with a broker; business attendance at a support workshop (diagnostic will be provided by Growth Platform. Suppliers wishing to use their own will need prior authorisation from Growth Platform). • referral to business support schemes and programmes (local and national). This should be an informed brokerage and introduction to the appropriate business support service.