Soft Market Testing for Growth Hub Service a Business Support Service

Essex County Council (ECC) intends to procure a specialist provider to provide Growth Hub support. Growth Hubs are an established business support service, 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. The existing contract expires on 30th June 2024. ECC would like to gauge the interest for a contract that would start on the 1 July 2024 and expire on 31 March 2025. Bids can be from a single organisation, a consortium or a lead entity with sub-contracting; this will be at the supplier’s discretion but is subject to agreement from Essex County Council. The estimated budget for this service is £100,000. The budget is based on previously received grants for the same service, however the exact budget is dependent on the value of the grant received from the DBT. To confirm your interest in the opportunity please email Daniel.Gaimster@essex.gov.uk. Responses should be submitted by 5pm 3 April 2024. Please note this PIN/Early Engagement/Request for Information is not intended as a call for competition.