Tender

Innovation Hub, Watford Borough Council

WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

30 Sep 2025 at 18:05

Summary of the contracting process

Watford Borough Council is currently seeking tenders for the development, delivery, and operation of an Innovation Hub within part of the Watford Town Hall Building. This initiative aims to leverage the local economy's growth and provide strategic use of the Town Hall space. The procurement process is in the tender stage, with a competitive flexible procedure set to appoint an operator by early 2026. Interested parties must submit their proposals by 11 November 2025. Located in Watford, the Hub is envisaged as a vibrant centre fostering innovation and business growth, and this project falls under the category of services with a focus on community and civic betterment activities.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses experienced in managing innovation and incubation spaces. There is potential for companies in the community services and civic improvement sectors to establish a presence in a historic location while engaging in a profit-sharing arrangement with the council. The project aligns well with SMEs looking to enhance local business ecosystems, create high-quality jobs, and connect with local talent. Such businesses would find themselves well-suited to compete for this contract, which boasts an estimated gross contract value of £5.4 million over a ten-year period.

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Notice Title

Innovation Hub, Watford Borough Council

Notice Description

Tenders are invited to develop, deliver and operate an Innovation Hub within part of the Watford Town Hall Building, with the aim of generating income over the longer term for Watford Borough Council (WBC), accelerating growth in the local economy and securing worthwhile use of space within the Town Hall. The Innovation Hub project is part of a wider programme: the Town Hall Quarter - an ambitious and comprehensive 10-year programme of activity at the northern end of Watford High Street to realise a vision of: 'a vibrant and thriving hub in the heart of the town, creating exciting new opportunities for our residents, businesses and community, contributing to Watford's prosperity and success' In September 2021 the Council approved a Strategic Business Case to develop an Innovation Hub. Following further development work, including wide market engagement, the Council has been successful in receiving government funding to develop an Innovation and Incubation Hub within the Town Hall. Since then, the Council has concentrated on the development of an Innovation Hub in the first instance, with scope in the future to expand this to include business incubation as well. The vision of the Innovation Hub is to: 'act as a centre for the successful generation and exploitation of new ideas, to transform creative thinking into new products, and develop new and improved processes and technologies to support new ways of doing business.' It is intended that the Innovation Hub will: *Make better use of Watford's historic Town Hall, opening it up for greater community and business use, securing its long-term future and putting it firmly at the centre of the life of the town *Boost high quality jobs, offering an inspiring, dynamic and well-connected new space for people to work, start and grow their businesses *Generate work opportunities for our young people, providing attractive career paths and links to local employment The Council now wish to enter into a contract with a suitably experienced operator who would manage and deliver the services in the Hub. The intention is to appoint an operator in early 2026, in order that the operator can be involved, as early as possible, in the design process for the Hub. Please note the published contract value is an estimated income generating contract centred around profit share rather than an expenditure contract value. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Watford:-Provision-of-services-to-the-community./4P7UK8PD44 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/4P7UK8PD44

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a563
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061098-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

75200000 - Provision of services to the community

85322000 - Community action programme

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

98133100 - Civic betterment and community facility support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
11 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2026 - 29 Feb 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Mitchelle Kasimu
Contact Email
mitchelle.kasimu@watford.gov.uk
Contact Phone
01923 226400

Buyer Location

Locality
WATFORD
Postcode
WD17 3EX
Post Town
Watford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH27 South West Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Watford
Electoral Ward
Park
Westminster Constituency
Watford

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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