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Digital Marketing Solution for the Recruitment of Foster Carers

Hartlepool Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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21 Jul 2026 at 09:50

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Hartlepool Borough Council commissioned a digital marketing service to recruit foster carers. The work addresses sustained pressure on children’s social care caused by shortages of foster carers, with the aim of improving placement stability and reducing reliance on higher-cost independent fostering agencies and residential placements. The service is a data-driven fostering recruitment campaign using advanced analytics and large-scale consumer data to identify and target people most likely to become foster carers. It is a marketing services requirement delivered for the Council in Hartlepool and the surrounding North East England area. The selected supplier’s stated role is to support improved outcomes for children in care while contributing to the financial sustainability of the Council’s fostering service.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to GI Solutions Group Limited. Hartlepool Borough Council used a direct award below the relevant threshold, without competition, following a market review that identified the supplier as uniquely positioned to provide the required data-led recruitment methodology at scale. The contract was signed on 29 June 2026 and runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Its value is £54,000 excluding VAT, or £64,800 including VAT. There is one completed lot and one active award. The requirement was evaluated through the Council’s assessment that the supplier’s specialised capability, methodology and track record were equivalent to no other identified market offering. The contract is active.

This procurement indicates demand from Hartlepool Borough Council for specialist, outcome-focused recruitment marketing in fostering and children’s social care. Suppliers best placed to compete for a comparable future requirement would combine digital campaign delivery with advanced audience analytics and access to large-scale consumer data. Credible providers would need to identify likely foster-carer candidates, target them effectively and demonstrate that their approach works at meaningful scale. Experience delivering fostering recruitment or closely related public-service recruitment campaigns would be relevant, particularly where the supplier can show improved engagement, stable placement outcomes or reduced dependence on external care placements. The award also shows that a provider’s distinctive methodology, established track record and ability to deliver a specialised service at scale can be decisive where the Council considers there is no equivalent alternative.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Digital Marketing Solution for the Recruitment of Foster Carers

Notice Description

Hartlepool Borough Council is facing sustained pressure in meeting the needs of children in care, driven in part by a shortage of foster carers locally and nationally. This has increased reliance on higher-cost Independent Fostering Agencies and residential placements, impacting both financial sustainability and placement stability for children. To address this, the Council is commissioning GoInspire to deliver a data-driven fostering recruitment campaign. GoInspire utilises advanced analytics and large-scale consumer data to identify and target individuals most likely to become foster carers. Following a review of the market, no other supplier has been identified that offers an equivalent data-led recruitment methodology at scale. GoInspire's proven track record and specialised capability mean they are uniquely positioned to deliver this service and will support improved outcomes for children in care while contributing to the financial sustainability of the service.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cf7e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068538-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£54,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Hartlepool Borough Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
HARTLEPOOL
Postcode
TS24 8AY
Postcode Area
Cleveland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC31 Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Hartlepool
Electoral Ward
Victoria
Westminster Constituency
Hartlepool

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GI SOLUTIONS GROUP LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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