Award

Provision of Consultancy Services for Pay and Grading Review

SOMERSET COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

28 Aug 2025 at 08:28

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Somerset Council has completed the procurement stage for the "Provision of Consultancy Services for Pay and Grading Review," with Korn Ferry (UK) Limited being awarded the contract. The award was published on 28 August 2025, with the contract period running from 29 August 2025 to 29 February 2028. This initiative, classified under CPV code 79000000, relates to business services in law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing, and security. The project is part of Somerset Council's 'Improvement and Transformation Workforce Programme,' aimed at establishing a new pay and grading structure to enhance the employer value proposition and modernise pay and grading by 2026/27. The contracting process focused on the delivery location primarily within the United Kingdom but includes regions such as British Oversea Territories, Channel Islands, Europe, Isle of Man, and others.

This contract offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in human resources and consultancy services, particularly those with experience in complex pay and grading reviews within the public sector. Firms with a proven track record of implementing comprehensive reward transformation programmes in similar authorities might find this particularly pertinent. The contract, which aims to ensure fair pay practices and aid in talent retention and recruitment for Somerset Council, indicates a deliberate move towards enhancing the working environment and securing value-for-money services, potentially setting a precedent for future projects in the public sector. SMEs and VCSEs are not highlighted in the suitability criteria, signifying that larger, established consultancy firms may have a competitive advantage for similar future opportunities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Consultancy Services for Pay and Grading Review

Notice Description

Somerset Council is considering the appointment of a consultancy partner to assist with a Pay and Grading review. Somerset Council is a predominantly rural unitary Council which came into being on 1 April 2023, bringing together the services previously provided by the four district councils; Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West & Taunton, and South Somerset, alongside the services provided by Somerset County Council. Following the creation of the Unitary Authority the council has been going through a period of transformation and has recently completed a review of structure and roles. Following a whole Council restructure, staffing levels from 1 April will be c4670 FTE. A high level structure chart is attached. We are currently considering an approach to developing and implementing a Total Reward Transformation programme for Somerset Council and may wish to seek support to deliver a complex and extensive 18-24-month programme of work that will result in an improved employer value proposition (EVP) and modernised pay and grading structure in 2026/27. The development and implementation of a fair and equitable Total Reward strategy, including a pay and grading review will ensure that the Council is able to recruit, retain and motivate a modern workforce with the goal of ensuring that the best possible value for money services are available to Somerset residents. The Total Reward Programme and Pay and Grading Review are planned projects within the 'Improvement and Transformation Workforce Programme', The implementation of the strategy will involve two main areas of work: * Workstream 1: Establishing a new pay and grading structure, which will include: * New, evaluated job descriptions for all jobs in the Council * An updated, sustainable approach for ensuring all jobs are properly and fairly evaluated, that is legally compliant, protects the Council against equal pay risks and that fosters a fair working environment * A costed and affordable pay and grading structure that is fit for purpose and supports the Council in its recruitment and retention goals Workstream 2: Integrating other terms & conditions (includes; pay enhancements & allowances, leave/time off, travel & subsistence, professional subscriptions, working time, financial and non-financial staff benefits and recognition schemes) Should we seek to appoint a consultant to assist in the delivery of such a programme, the chosen supplier must be able to demonstrate proven experience of the successful delivery of the same or similar work in a comparable authority. Following the recent market engagement with interested consultants, a Further Competition is now being launched, with consultants who expressed interest, under Lot 5 (Human Resources) of the Crown Commercial Service Framework RM6187 - Management Consultancy Framework Three (MCF3)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ee351a85-98ca-4a3c-b369-8dd2e3cb52fe
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Aug 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
24 Jun 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Aug 20256 months ago
Contract Period
28 Aug 2025 - 29 Feb 2028 2-3 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
SOMERSET COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
TAUNTON
Postcode
TA1 4DY
Post Town
Taunton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK62 Somerset
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Somerset
Electoral Ward
Bishop's Hull & Taunton West
Westminster Constituency
Taunton and Wellington

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

KORN FERRY (UK

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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