CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023

Tender description

Devon County Council (DCC) is reletting its Business Support Framework to deliver business support in the Devon area and other economic geographies, potentially including: the Heart of the South West (HotSW) (Devon, Somerset, Torbay and Plymouth); the Great South West (Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, Plymouth & Torbay; and a new Combined Authority under devolution (Plymouth, Devon, and Torbay). The framework is commissioned and managed by DCC, acting as the lead and responsible body. The framework will also be available (following approval from DCC) to Somerset Council, Members of the Devon and Cornwall Procurement Partnership (D&CPP), the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP), and the new Combined Authority under devolution. For funding that requires a quick turnaround, the Business Support Framework will facilitate DCC and its partners to mobilise business support programmes quickly with suppliers who have already been pre-approved. The Business Support Framework is split into six Lots: Lot 1: Business support and growth – delivering holistic business support for all types of businesses and social enterprises at all stages of the business life cycle, including a comprehensive range of diagnostic support, subject-specific support, and essential growth and planning support. Delivery of support can be provided through workshops and 1:1s. Lot 2: Academic investigation and evaluation support – undertaking bespoke analysis and research of sectors, business support need and programmes. Outputs from suppliers will include a mixture of written reports, research data, and appropriate visuals, as well as potential presentations to officers, members, associated boards, and other parties involved in any of the project work. Lot 3: Specialist business support – providing specialist services and business support across all sectors, including farming and agriculture, on a variety of topics unique to specific sectors or business development. Themes include diversity in business, green business support, business and family succession planning, routes to market and procurement, and technological and digital business support. Delivery of support can be provided through workshops and 1:1s. Lot 4: Productivity and skills – providing support for developing a more productive and skilled workforce, including supporting employers and organisations to plan and invest well, develop leadership and management, support recruitment and retention, and identify training needs in addition to accessing appropriate qualifications and/or training. Lot 5: Farming and agricultural business support – providing specialist support to farming and agricultural businesses at all stages of the business life cycle. Suppliers should be equipped to understand the opportunities for funding and farming practice and have a comprehensive knowledge of the sector in its broadest sense (which includes forestry, horticulture, aquaculture, regenerative land management, agri-tech and innovation, etc.). Delivery of support can be provided through workshops and 1:1s. Lot 6: Marketing and communication support – providing specialist marketing and promotion support for business support programmes. Outputs from suppliers may include the creation and delivery of a multi-media marketing and communications campaign, supplying a comprehensive suite of multi-media assets, a communication and branding plan to drive traffic to sign-up pages, brand development, in addition to analysis and campaign reporting on targeting specific audience(s), trend analysis, market research, and campaign evaluation. The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.