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GB-Newcastle Upon Tyne: T25-0047 Start Up Support Services Framework Lot 2 Business Growth

Northumbria University at Newcastle

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

13 Aug 2026 at 11:00

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northumbria University at Newcastle procured business growth support under the Start Up Support Services Framework, Lot 2. The service is business development consultancy for students and graduates who are considering self-employment or starting a business, or who want to build entrepreneurial skills and an enterprising mindset to improve their employability. Delivery is expected through a mixed programme of one-to-one mentoring, workshops, residency days at the university’s on-campus incubator and bootcamp-style events. The work is delivered in Newcastle upon Tyne and the wider North East of England. It covers advice, guidance and practical support for early-stage enterprise and business development. The relevant business category is business development consultancy services, alongside wider business and management consultancy services.

This procurement has been completed following an open procedure. The tender closed on 7 July 2026, and the contract was awarded on 4 August 2026 to Sphera Consulting Limited. The award covers the eight-lot agreement, including the Lot 2 business growth requirement, with a total awarded value of £150,000. The contract period runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029. The procurement was for services and was structured as a framework covering eight lots. The selected supplier is Sphera Consulting Limited, based in Gateshead. The published outcome records the award as active, while the overall tender status is complete. The service is intended for delivery across the North East of England.

This award indicates demand for structured enterprise support within a university setting, combining individual mentoring with group learning, incubator-based activity and intensive bootcamp delivery. A credible future competitor would need experience helping students, graduates or other early-stage entrepreneurs move from business ideas towards self-employment or start-up, as well as the ability to develop entrepreneurial skills and employability. Relevant capability includes delivering one-to-one advice, facilitated workshops, on-campus residency sessions and event-based programmes as one coordinated service. Suppliers should be able to work with a university’s student and graduate community and support both prospective founders and people seeking broader enterprising skills. The procurement was marked as unsuitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises, indicating a requirement aimed at established specialist providers with sufficient delivery capacity.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

GB-Newcastle Upon Tyne: T25-0047 Start Up Support Services Framework Lot 2 Business Growth

Notice Description

The University is seeking to procure advice, guidance and support for students and graduates that are either considering the idea of self-employment or business start-up as a chosen career path, or who are looking to develop enterprising skills and entrepreneurial mindset to enhance their employability. Support will be delivered using a mixed methods approach, through dedicated one-to-one mentoring sessions, workshops, in-residency days at our on-campus Incubator, as well as through bootcamp style events. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VALUE STIPULATED IS FOR THE TOTAL CONTRACT WHICH CONSISTS OF EIGHT LOTS Additional information: PLEASE NOTE THE CONTRACT VALUE IS FOR THE DURATION OF THE AGREEMENT AND IS FOR ALL 8 LOTS

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-8511f976-55fe-4bc3-9cc4-60dc8f345dee
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/006e4e46-b074-4bf8-b967-58afcc29ad83
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

79411100 - Business development consultancy services

79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services

79990000 - Miscellaneous business-related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£150,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
7 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Northumbria University at Newcastle
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE1 8ST
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England)
Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Monument
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Sphera Consulting Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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