Business Database-Data Collection Service

Tender description

Thurrock Council has been awarded funding from Government under the Welcome Back Fund (WBF) to deliver projects within key location around the borough, with a view to improving business resilience to COVID-19, strengthening the local economy, improving the aesthetic of our towns and instilling confidence in local people that it is safe to visit and shop here. To re-energise our centres we will be organising local high street events, community created local artwork, improved street furniture to make the areas more welcoming and we will be running a major advertising and social media campaign from November 2021- March 2022 encouraging 'Thurrock to shop local'. An important element of this work is to help support independent SME Businesses who are operating in our local high streets, many of whom have struggled to manage during COVID. We are looking to appoint an organisation that has expertise in this area and can support the objectives outlined below. This programme is looking to enhance the business potential of our independent high street businesses by providing them with a website/social media funded support package. We anticipate that this will provide for the development or enhancement of their current online presence, marketing and social media. This work aligns with other activities designed to enhance the high street areas, both in terms of increased footfall and in supporting business survival. Thurrock Council has undertaken preliminary research on the number of retail businesses, the nature of the product, and the level at which they are currently using online or social media. We estimate in the selected high streets that this is around 90 businesses, of which 21% currently have an online sales platform - 20% have no online presence and the balance with Facebook and/or website information. The council want to expand this basic information and develop a more detailed contact database for all independent SME businesses on Thurrock High Streets, with greater insight supported through a business needs analysis. The supplier will be expected to engage with all independent retail businesses within the selected high street areas and identify the key contact, email and telephone of key contact, age of business, relevant social media links and other data useful in the description of their business (supplier to identify). The database will allow Thurrock Council with a route for ongoing communication and engagement and underpin the business support offered via the Welcome Back Fund. Final database information will be agreed in conjunction with the Welcome Back project manager and the Thurrock council Comms team. A draft web/social media analysis, along with any supplementary questions required by the Thurrock Council economic development team will be provided to the successful supplier. This will then be refined and agreed between the Welcome Back project manager and the supplier The Welcome Back Fund is funded by th...