ESCC MA South East Business Boost - Business Growth and Productivity Grants

Tender description

Through learning from the SEBB 2017 programme this procurement is based on evidence of need in the South East and East Sussex economies. The Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Programme Management team manage the overall SEBB Grants Programme across the SELEP area. This includes reviewing applications, checking SME and project eligibility, hosting the grants panel to approve grant applications, managing the grant funding-pot, and managing the transfer of funds to businesses. East Sussex is a delivery partner in this wider programme and is responsible for generating leads for grants and getting sufficient businesses to apply. Businesses are able to apply for grants directly to Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, without receiving any support. However, learning from SEBB 2017 has been that there is significant benefit in providing SMEs with local support throughout the process, and having a local delivery team to market the grants and ensure that local targets are met. The role of the Service Provider in East Sussex will be to: a) Market the available grant offers to SMEs throughout the East Sussex area b) Support eligible businesses through the grant process ensuring a minimum of 156 grants are delivered in East Sussex c) Provide all necessary reporting to the Programme Management Team at the Lead Authority (Southend-on-Sea Borough Council) and the County Council. East Sussex County Council considers social value for all goods, works and services it procures over ?100k. Accordingly, this tender will take into account the social value objectives of the Council relating to the economic, social and environmental well-being of the county. The Council will be actively seeking partners who share this commitment to social value and who are willing to work proactively to deliver social value within the county of East Sussex.