Planning

Innovation Hub Operator

LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

28 Aug 2025 at 15:53

Planning

21 May 2025 at 07:44

Summary of the contracting process

Lancashire County Council is currently in the planning stage for the procurement of an operator for the Samlesbury Innovation Hub, a cutting-edge innovation and collaboration environment. The council, acting as the buyer, is located in Preston, United Kingdom, and has published a preliminary market engagement exercise with key dates including a submission deadline for expressions of interest by 26 September 2025. Targeting the services industry, specifically miscellaneous business and business-related services, this process aims to appoint a strategic partner that will handle both commercial management and innovation activation. Notably, the contract is planned to commence on 1 March 2026 and extend over a decade until February 2036.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses with expertise in managing innovation hubs, providing a platform for strategic growth and long-term partnership with a public authority. The procurement is ideal for high-calibre operators in the workspace, innovation hub, and facilities management sectors. The planned introduction of a framework agreement further supports businesses by potentially streamlining future procurement processes. Companies interested in contributing to regional innovation-led growth and capable of assuming commercial and operational risks would find this tender particularly suited to their ambitions.

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Notice Title

Innovation Hub Operator

Notice Description

Lancashire County Council is seeking to appoint a high-calibre operator capable of managing and activating the Samlesbury Innovation Hub as a best-in-class innovation and collaboration environment. The successful operator will be expected to deliver a comprehensive package of services, support wider strategic ambitions around innovation-led growth, and assume an agreed degree of commercial and operational risk. The operator will be a long-term strategic partner, not just a facilities manager.

Planning Information

Lancashire County Council is inviting interested organisations in the workspace, innovation hub, and facilities management sectors to engage with this preliminary market engagement exercise. Interested organisations should: - Visit: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-procurement/tenders/ - Navigate to the market engagement project by clicking on the link for Innovation Hub Operator EOI. - Review the Innovation Hub Operator EOI document(s) contained on the project page. This document provides more in-depth information regarding this preliminary market engagement exercise. - Submit your expression of interest (EOI) via email to contractscorporate@lancashire.gov.uk by no later than 26 September 2025 at 12 noon.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0519a5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052167-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
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

79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services

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
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2026 - 29 Feb 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

MAKE (NW) LIMITED

SOCIAL VALUE PORTAL LTD

Contact Name
Andrew Patten
Contact Email
contractscorporate@lancashire.gov.uk, p.hickey@make-nw.co.uk, sales@socialvalueportal.com
Contact Phone
+44 20 3355 0530, 01772 536452

Buyer Location

Locality
PRESTON
Postcode
PR1 0LD
Post Town
Preston
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD4 Lancashire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD47 Chorley and West Lancashire
Delivery Location
TLD4 Lancashire

Local Authority
Chorley
Electoral Ward
Chorley North East
Westminster Constituency
Chorley

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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