Award

Growth Hub 2025

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

ContractAmendment

13 Aug 2025 at 08:55

Award

06 May 2025 at 08:39

Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is leading the procurement process for the "Growth Hub 2025" contract, aimed at bolstering business support services. This initiative, classified under the business and management consultancy industry category, is located in the Chelmsford region and seeks to provide essential resources for high street and cooperative businesses in line with Essex County Council's "Backing Essex Business" plan. Following an amendment on 12th August 2025, the contract received additional funding from the Department of Business and Trade to enhance its service offerings. This procurement reached the award and contract stages, with Smarter Society Limited, a small to medium enterprise, actively engaged from 1st May 2025 to 31st March 2026. The procurement method was limited, focusing on below-threshold competition, enhancing the capacity for localised business cooperation.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in management consultancy and related services, particularly those with expertise in supporting small to medium enterprises. Enterprises capable of delivering comprehensive business support, such as one-on-one advisories and consultations tailored to diagnostic assessments, will find this contract beneficial. The contract’s alignment with government-funded initiatives further supports business stability and potential growth, encouraging innovative participation from SMEs, especially those focusing on enhancing local economies and navigating business landscapes.

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Notice Title

Growth Hub 2025

Notice Description

Growth Hubs are an established business support service provided, 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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050cd3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048262-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited 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

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£25,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 Apr 20259 months ago
Contract Period
11 Aug 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurementsanda@essex.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Post Town
Chelmsford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SMARTER SOCIETY

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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