Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Creative campaign partner

The City of Liverpool College

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Aug 2026 at 11:35

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

01 Jul 2026 at 12:52

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The City of Liverpool College appointed a creative agency to develop a marketing campaign positioning the College as the first-choice college for students who want more. The work covers student recruitment and must operate within the College’s established brand framework, retaining its recognisable colours, typography and logo while allowing creative development of the visual language. Campaign content needs to address three audiences: 16–18-year-old students seeking distinctive, authentic education-sector creative; adult learners balancing study with work and family; and employers looking for clear outcomes, partnership and workforce impact. The service is marketing and creative campaign development, delivered for The City of Liverpool College in the Liverpool City Region. The procurement was limited to agencies with an office in the Liverpool City Region responsible for the account.

This below-threshold open competition is complete and has been awarded. Four bids were received, all from SMEs, and POKE LIMITED was selected on 17 August 2026. The award is £109,800 excluding VAT (£131,760 including VAT). The contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2028, with a one-year optional extension available until 31 August 2029. The original estimated value was £120,000 excluding VAT (£144,000 including VAT), with an approximate annual value of £40,000 excluding VAT. Bids were evaluated on price at 30%, quality at 60%, environmental, corporate responsibility and sustainability at 5%, and added value at 5%. Quality comprised two scored elements weighted at 25% and 35%.

This award shows that The City of Liverpool College buys locally delivered creative marketing expertise for student recruitment, with a requirement to work inside an established education brand while developing distinctive campaign creative. Suppliers seeking similar work should be able to demonstrate audience-led strategy and execution across young people, adult learners and employers, adapting tone and messaging without losing brand consistency. Credibility also depends on understanding further education, recruitment decisions, employability outcomes and employer partnerships, rather than producing general promotional material. A suitable competitor would need an office in the Liverpool City Region, a capable account team, and the capacity to manage a multi-audience campaign over a sustained period. Strong quality, environmental and social responsibility, and added-value proposals were material to the selection.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Creative campaign partner

Notice Description

The College is looking for a creative agency to develop a campaign that positions The City of Liverpool College as the first-choice college for students who want more. The College is under the Schools Exemption we are limiting this tender opportunity to Liverpool City Region only agencies, please include within your bid the post code of the office who will be responsible for the account. The value of this contract is approximately PS40k ex vat per annum. The top 4 x scoring suppliers will be invited to the presentation stage (date & brief to be advised). The campaign will be developed within The City of Liverpool College's established brand framework, which includes set colours, typography and logo guidelines. We are open to creative interpretation and evolution within that framework, particularly around typography and visual language, but the College's core brand identity should remain recognisable throughout. Agencies should outline their approach to working alongside an existing brand identity in their response. Creative should reflect a genuine understanding of each audience: For 16-18 year old students that means moving beyond institutional aesthetics: we want work that feels real, confident, and visual distinct from anything else in the education sector. For adult learners, the tone shifts. These are people weighing up a significant decision, often alongside work and family. The creative needs to meet them where they are and make the path forward feel achievable. For businesses, the ask is different again. Employers need to see return, and the creative should speak to outcomes, partnership and workforce impact.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: One year optional extension included within the tender.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c132
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078040-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79342000 - Marketing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£109,800 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
27 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The City of Liverpool College
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
THE LEARNING EXCHANGE, LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L1 9DW
Postcode Area
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
TLD72 Liverpool
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
Canning
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

POKE LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...