Growth Hub and Net Zero Provision

Tender description

On behalf of the consortium (the consortium being Suffolk districts and borough councils (Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, and West Suffolk Council), Suffolk County Council and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership), East Suffolk Council (ESC) is seeking to appoint a Single Service Delivery Provider or multi-providers to deliver business support and development services aimed at business over 12 months of trading across the county of Suffolk. We will be procuring the services under Lots to allow for specialist service providers to bid for the relevant services. The Lots we will be procuring, each on a Suffolk wide basis, are as follows: 1. Lot-1: New Anglia Growth Hub with Scale-Up Programme2. Lot-2: Net zero business consultancy The business support services under each Lot will be open to any business that is located within Suffolk and open to any sector, including social enterprises within the county. Lot Lot 1: New Anglia Growth Hub with Scale-Up Programme The New Anglia Growth Hub aims to engage with businesses and enterprise across Norfolk and Suffolk and drive-up levels of innovation and growth, by providing the ecosystem businesses need to access the help and support they need to grow.The provision of cost-effective, free at point of access, support to SMEs and in some instances large businesses, targeted at growth sectors, with in-depth support for businesses with the greatest potential for growth, will increase levels of GVA across the of Suffolk, and create new jobs. Going forward under the new procured service there will be fewer limitations on the types of businesses that can be supported. Lot Lot 2: Net zero business consultancy The Supplier will provide expert and impartial advice to assist businesses in identifying what net zero means to them by providing an energy audit service for their business and subsequent advice and action plan arising from the audit service. All bidders should look to compliment and where possible go above and beyond existing local net zero consultancy services and should signpost and encourage sign-up to the Suffolk Carbon Charter (please visit: https://carboncharter.org/ for more information). The consultancy element should include a three-step process, as a minimum:1. Measure the businesses carbon footprint and quantify the businesses emissions across all of its operations.2. Offer advice and expertise on how a business can reduce their carbon footprint, in a way that is suitable to their financial capability and is cost effective.3. Work with the business to develop an action plan that is achievable and realistic for the business, and help the business identify funding opportunities including use of resource, grants, and loans.