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PR Communications Partner for Business Gateway

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

25 Aug 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Tender

10 Jun 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), acting for Business Gateway’s National Unit, procured public relations and communications services. The appointed partner is expected to work alongside the Business Gateway marketing team on national and local PR strategy and delivery. The scope includes designing and developing measurable PR campaigns, raising awareness of Business Gateway services, shaping its narrative, building its reputation, producing client case studies and engaging stakeholders across Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The work supports Business Gateway’s business and marketing objectives and aims to strengthen the Scottish economy. This is a services opportunity for a PR agency with the ability to provide both strategic advice and practical campaign delivery nationally and regionally, with activity delivered in Scotland.

The procurement is complete and was run as a single lot through an open procedure. Submissions closed at 09:00 on 13 July 2026, with bid opening at the same time; bids had to remain valid for 30 days. The contract was awarded to Holyrood PR, an SME, and signed on 1 August 2026. The awarded contract value is £99,430. The tender’s anticipated annual value was £120,000. The initial contract period runs from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, with the possibility of a further 12 months subject to annual funding confirmation. Twenty bids were received, all from SMEs. English-language bids were required, variants were not allowed, and staff names and qualifications had to be provided.

This requirement shows demand from COSLA and Business Gateway for an agency that can combine strategic PR planning with hands-on national and regional delivery. A credible competitor would need experience developing campaigns with measurable results, raising the profile of business-support services, producing persuasive client case studies, managing stakeholder engagement and working closely with an in-house marketing team. The scope suits an established PR agency able to coordinate activity across Scotland while maintaining a consistent narrative for both supported businesses and the wider entrepreneurial community. Important credibility markers include at least three years’ trading, turnover above £85,000, up-to-date accounts and tax records, professional indemnity insurance of at least £1 million, Living Wage accreditation, ICO registration or a valid exemption, and a business continuity and risk-assessment plan.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PR Communications Partner for Business Gateway

Notice Description

Business Gateway is seeking appoint a PR partner to work alongside the Marketing team to develop its PR in order to raise awareness of BG services nationally and locally. This will support the delivery of BG's business and marketing objectives and, in turn, help grow and strengthen the Scottish economy.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Business Gateway National Unit (BGNU) is looking to award a contract for the provision of PR services to commence on 1 August 2026. The contract will be for a 12-month period from 1st August 2026 - 31st July 2027, with the ability to add 12 plus months at the end of this initial period, subject to annual confirmation of funding. The anticipated annual value of the framework is GBP 120,000. The objective of this tender is for the appointed supplier to become the PR partner for Business Gateway (BG), working alongside them on national and regional PR strategy and delivery, including client case studies and stakeholder engagement, to help raise awareness, shape their narrative and build reputation. Business Gateway seeks a dynamic PR agency to design and develop PR campaigns which will deliver measurable results against objectives. The main aim of this contract is to put in place an agency that can work with the team to design, develop, and deliver PR both nationally and locally - raising Business Gateway's profile with both the businesses it supports, and within the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Renewal: Subject to annual confirmation of funding

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000834180
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG563041
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
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

79416000 - Public relations services

79416100 - Public relations management services

79416200 - Public relations consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£99,430 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
13 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH12 5BH
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Holyrood PR

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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