Planning

Soft Market Testing for Growth Hub- 2025 (a Business Support Service)

  • Essex County Council

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-004818

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04de58

Published 12 February 2025, 5:30pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Essex County Council

County Hall, Market Road

Chelmsford

CM1 1QH

Contact

Mr Craig Johnson

Email

craig.johnson@essex.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 333

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKH3 - Essex

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://procontract.due-north.com/

Buyer's address

https://www.essex.gov.uk/

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Soft Market Testing for Growth Hub- 2025 (a Business Support Service)

Reference number

DN762967

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Essex County Council (ECC) intends to procure a specialist provider to provide Growth Hub support. Growth Hubs are an established business support service provided, which provide free and impartial signposting, information, and advice to all businesses looking to succeed, helping them to navigate the national and local support landscape. It is Government grant funded annually by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and provides a one stop shop for business support services that offers: • Information, navigation, and signposting via a coordinated, multi-channel service • One-to-one structured support to small and medium enterprises, incorporating a diagnostic assessment of business needs and advice and guidance.

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert providers to an opportunity to deliver the Growth Hub service for Essex County Council.

The estimated launch date for the opportunity is April 2025.

Please contact Craig Johnson at craig.johnson@essex.gov.uk to express an interest in the Growth Hub service.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH3 - Essex

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Essex County Council (ECC) intends to procure a specialist provider to provide Growth Hub support. Growth Hubs are an established business support service provided, which provide free and impartial signposting, information, and advice to all businesses looking to succeed, helping them to navigate the national and local support landscape. It is Government grant funded annually by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and provides a one stop shop for business support services that offers: • Information, navigation, and signposting via a coordinated, multi-channel service • One-to-one structured support to small and medium enterprises, incorporating a diagnostic assessment of business needs and advice and guidance.

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert providers to an opportunity to deliver the Growth Hub service for Essex County Council.

The estimated launch date for the opportunity is April 2025.

Please contact Craig Johnson at craig.johnson@essex.gov.uk to express an interest in the Growth Hub service.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

1 April 2025


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No