Shared Prosperity Fund – Business Support

Tender description

Devon County Council (DCC) is running a business support programme funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) until March 2025. This will offer a range of support to businesses and start ups in Mid Devon, East Devon, and Exeter. Support will be delivered through a mixture of in-person and online support, on either a 1-2-1 or workshop basis. Support is to be split into four Lots: Lot 1: General business support Lot 2: Green business support Lot 3: Start up support Lot 4: Job creation and safeguarding support These lots will support DCC and it’s local authority partners to meet the aims of SPF and achieve specific SPF outputs and outcomes. Any bidders that exceed the amounts stated within the tender documents will not be taken forward to further evaluation and will be rejected for the lot (s) in which the requirement was not met, unless all bids do not meet these requirements. Bids must also confirm a commitment to provide at least the minimum quantity of outputs and outcomes outlined in column B of the pricing schedule document in respect of each description for each lot. Any Bid that does not meet these minimum requirements will not be taken forward to further evaluation and will be rejected for the lot (s) in which the requirement was not met, unless all bids do not meet these requirements. If all bids fail to provide these commitments, all bids except those who do not allow for each district to obtain the correct share of outputs and outcomes they require for the overall budget they have allocated individually, will be evaluated. Lot 1: General business support delivery This is to include the delivery of a broad business diagnostic sessions on a 1-2-1 basis, as well as subject-specific sessions on either a 1-2-1 or workshop basis, follow-up support, networking events and peer support activities to explore topics including; • Business and Person-centred diagnostics; • Business planning; • Access to finance & budget management; • Access to new markets; • Human Resources, staff and apprenticeships; • Innovation; • Digital capability; • Bidding for work and procurement advice; • Marketing. Lot 2: Green business support This is to include the delivery of a broad business diagnostic sessions on a 1-2-1 basis, as well as subject-specific sessions on either a 1-2-1 or workshop basis, follow-up support, networking events and peer support activities to explore topics including; • Carbon reduction and net zero agenda; • Energy and resource efficiency; • Carbon foot printing (impact vs sequestration); • Waste management; • Renewable energy (wind, hydro, solar); • Clean and inclusive growth; • On-site/off-grid energy generation. Lot 3: Start up support This is to include the delivery of a broad business diagnostic sessions on a 1-2-1 basis, as well as subject-specific sessions on either a 1-2-1 or workshop basis, follow-up support, networking events and peer support activities to explore topics including; • Business planning; • Building confidence; • Market research; • How to identify resources; • How to avoid common mistakes; • Legal structure; • Registering as a Sole Trader, or on Companies House; • How to manage, organise, run, market, finance and grow a new business. Lot 4: Job creation and safeguarding support This is to include the delivery of a broad business diagnostic sessions on a 1-2-1 basis, as well as subject-specific sessions on either a 1-2-1 or workshop basis, follow-up support, networking events and peer support activities to explore topics including; • Employment legislation and requirements, including pensions, insurance, and registering as an employer with HMRC; • Self-employment; • Inclusive employment; • Setting wages; • Recruiting and hiring; • Alternatives to redundancy.