Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
West Midlands Combined Authority
16 Summer Lane
Birmingham
B19 3SD
Telephone
+44 3453036760
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG - West Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main 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
High Growth Accelerator Programme
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
The aim of this programme is to provide intensive and in-depth support for 50 high-growth SMEs (as defined by sections 382 and 465 of the Companies Act) in the West Midlands, ending in March 2025. The support will help these firms to manage their growth in a more sustainable way, ensuring that their growth continues higher, longer, and more sustainably than may have been without the support.
We define a “high-growth firm” as an enterprise with average annualised growth in employees or turnover greater than 20 percent per annum, over a two-year period, and with a turnover of greater than £1 million per annum in the most recent accounts (or which has raised more than £500,000 in equity from external investors).
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,705,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
In delivering the programme, the Provider will be required to carry out the following activities:
Brand and collateral
The Provider will provide a distinctive brand and marketing collateral (digital collateral can be hosted on www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk) to promote the High Growth Accelerator Programme to the eligible businesses, explaining the offer succinctly. The Provider should work collaboratively with BGWM on the promotion and marketing of the programme and follow BGWM branding requirements.
Business Engagement & Recruitment
Eligible businesses will be referred to the Provider by the Business Growth West Midlands service (BGWM), following an initial diagnostic and assessment. This will identify high-growth firms meeting the criteria or showing significant potential. Businesses might also approach the provider directly; in these cases the Provider will need to inform BGWM and ensure the enquiry is recorded and a diagnostic complete.
The Provider will be required to engage with stakeholders to support the promotion of the programme, including universities, internal support programmes (such as the Investment Readiness Programme), private sector networks and providers such as Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Institute of Directors (IoD), banks, accountants and solicitors etc.
The Provider will be required to work collaboratively with other WMCA-funded delivery organisations to maximise alignment and eliminate duplication, this will include attendance at WMCA’s Bi-monthly Innovation and Business Support Forum. To ensure timely delivery we expect the initial onboarding of 50 eligible high-growth firms with development plans in place within the first 4 months of the programme.
Discovery meeting and baseline position
Following a referral and initial diagnostic from the Business Growth West Midlands service, the Provider will be required to arrange an initial meeting with the participant business to develop the completed diagnostic and understand how to best meet the needs of the business and achieve the aims of the programme. The Provider will then prepare an improvement plan, agreeing a baseline of the company’s performance, and detailing the proposed activity over the duration of the programme to continue growth sustainably and include costings against each activity proposed.
Active account management
Rather than simply offering advice and guidance, the Provider will be required to actively work on behalf of the participant businesses to achieve the goals set in the improvement plan over the lifetime of the programme. The Provider will be required to work closely and in collaboration with the Business Growth West Midlands team and Local Authority (LA) account managers to involve third party support where relevant and suitable. Activity will be delivered predominantly as one-to-one support but can include a range of support such as small group workshops, peer-to-peer workshop activity, best practice visits etc. where there are additional benefits mutually agreed by all participants. Results reported by the Provider will need to be confirmed by the participant companies and evidenced. We expect the support offered to be collaborative and informed by the genuine needs of the participants.
The Provider will provide the participant businesses access to a network of mentors, coaches, non-executive directors, investors, and other expertise.
Assist and inform an independent evaluation
An independent evaluation will be commissioned by a third party, to commence midway through the programme. This will provide initial feedback to the Provider and WMCA to help inform delivery. The provider will facilitate access to businesses taking part in the programme to assist with the independent evaluation.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Total Fixed/Other Costs / Weighting: 5
Cost criterion - Name: Average Staff Rate / Weighting: 15
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2023/S 000-034280
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
05063-2023
Title
High Growth Accelerator Programme
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23 May 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 11
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Gateley Global Limited
111 Edmund Street
Birmingham
B3 2HJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG31 - Birmingham
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,705,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
West Midlands Combined Authority
16 Summer Lane
Birmingham
B19 3SD
Country
United Kingdom