Scope
Description
The Kent and Medway Growth Hub ("KMGH") is a government funded service that enables small and medium sized businesses in Kent and Medway to access local and national business support. Funded via a grant from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Growth Hub provides a one stop shop for business support services that offers:
•Information, navigation, and signposting via a coordinated, multi-channel service.
•Structured support to small and medium enterprises, incorporating a diagnostic assessment of business needs and advice and guidance.
Kent County Council (KCC) is the Accountable Body for the Kent & Medway Growth Hub service.
Kent and Medway have a strong track record of practical delivery, underpinned by a long track record of excellent partnership working between business and local government. The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP) is the economic partnership for Kent and Medway and takes the strategic lead in the Kent and Medway areas for economic growth.
The provider of the current core Growth Hub service for Kent and Medway, is the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce (KICC).
The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership is responsible for the delivery of the objectives set out in Kent and Medway Economic Framework (Kent & Medway Economic Framework). It sets out the actions that businesses and local authorities in Kent and Medway, together we will take to drive forward delivery of the following aims:
•Ambition 1: Enabling innovative creative and productive businesses.
•Ambition 2: Widening opportunities and unlocking talent.
•Ambition 3: Securing resilient infrastructure for planned, sustained growth.
•Ambition 4: Placing economic opportunity at the centre of community wellbeing and prosperity.
•Ambition 5: Creating diverse, distinctive and vibrant places.
The Core service activities include:
•Marketing and Engagement of the service to relevant businesses
•Provision of single point of contact for business support services
•Assessment of business need and signposting to relevant support
•Direct one to one business support for ambitious and high growth companies
•Development of strategic partnerships and robust referral networks
•Data collection, verification, and reporting
Further Information regarding the opportunity has been provided within the procurement documents. These documents can be accessed by registering your interest on the Kent Business Portal via the link provided in this notice.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £904,525 excluding VAT
- £1,085,430 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
11 July 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
11 July 2025
Standstill period
- End: 23 July 2025
- 8 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
31 July 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2025 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2029
- 3 years, 8 months
Description of possible extension:
The proposed contract extension is subject to confirmation of funding from the Department of Business and Trade (DBT), and successful delivery of the Contract.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The Council shall include 'Option Provisions' such that it can purchase additional activity up to 50% of the original contract package dependent on available budget, Supplier performance and due diligence requirements. Additional funding may be provided to deliver additional activity to address a significant economic impact. Historically, additional funding has been provided to address the significant impact of Covid-19. Subject to satisfactory performance within the contract, the Council would consider the provision of additional works in alignment with Schedule 8, Paragraph 8 of the Procurement Act 2023.
CPV classifications
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Contract locations
- UKJ4 - Kent
Information about tenders
- 1 tender received
- 1 tender assessed in the final stage:
- 1 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 0 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Submission
Submission type
Tenders
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Supplier
Smarter Society Limited
- Companies House: 09874339
QWest 1100 Great West Road
Brentford
TW80GP
United Kingdom
Email: hello@smartersociety.org
Region: UKI75 - Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
Kent County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLDL-8938-YGYW
County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
United Kingdom
Email: Joseph.kay@kent.gov.uk
Website: https://www.kent.gov.uk/
Region: UKJ45 - Mid Kent
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government