Award

Student Recruitment Advertising

QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2025 at 11:15

Award

16 Dec 2024 at 14:25

Summary of the contracting process

Queen Margaret University, based in Musselburgh, United Kingdom, has completed a procurement process for student recruitment advertising services. This contract, valued at £260,000, was awarded to Penna Plc under a limited procurement method, which allowed for a direct award due to reasons of extreme urgency. The contract, aimed at strategizing, executing, and monitoring campaign activities to boost student recruitment, falls under the services category, specifically advertising and marketing. The initial contract was signed on 16th December 2024 and was intended to run for one year, ensuring continuity of services during the absence of a Head of Procurement at the university.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses operating in the advertising and marketing services sector, especially those capable of delivering comprehensive campaign strategies for higher education institutions. Companies with expertise in creating targeted student recruitment campaigns would find this contract particularly beneficial to their growth, as it leverages the possibility of establishing a long-term relationship with a prominent public educational body like Queen Margaret University. The procurement process highlights the potential for suppliers who can swiftly adapt to urgent requirements and offer high-standard marketing solutions without the need for an open call for competition.

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Notice Title

Student Recruitment Advertising

Notice Description

QMU requires a competent and proficient supplier to support the strategizing, execution and monitoring of campaign activity in order to stimulate student recruitment.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Non-competitive action carried out due to reasons of extreme urgency according to regulation 6(1)(C). Contract awarded to incumbent supplier, Penna Plc, to ensure continuity of student advertising services in the absence of a Head of Procurement for one year contract. Full procurement to be carried out once contract expires.

Procurement Information

Non-competitive action carried out due to reasons of extreme urgency according to regulation 6(1)(C). Contract awarded to incumbent supplier, Penna Plc, to ensure continuity of student advertising services in the absence of a Head of Procurement for one year contract. Full procurement to be carried out once contract expires.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04c85f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053113-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
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

79340000 - Advertising and marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£260,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
16 Dec 20241 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Cancelled
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active, Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
QUEEN MARGARET UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Ross Sharp
Contact Email
rsharp@qmu.ac.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1314740000

Buyer Location

Locality
MUSSELBURGH
Postcode
EH21 6UU
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM11 East Lothian and Midlothian
Delivery Location
TLM73 East Lothian and Midlothian

Local Authority
East Lothian
Electoral Ward
Musselburgh
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PENNA

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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