--- title: "Soft Market Testing for Growth Hub- 2025 (a Business Support Service)" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2025-02-12" --- # Soft Market Testing for Growth Hub- 2025 (a Business Support Service) Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba.json) ## Summary Essex County Council is in the planning stages for the procurement of a specialist provider to offer Growth Hub support, a business support service. The service aims to provide free and impartial signposting, information, and advice to businesses. This procurement process is classified under the industry category of business and management consultancy services (CPV 79400000). The soft market testing phase is underway with an engagement end date set for 28 February 2025, and the anticipated launch date for the opportunity is April 2025. The procurement is part of a Government grant-funded initiative by the Department for Business and Trade, with services to be delivered in England, United Kingdom. Interested parties can contact Craig Johnson at craig.johnson@essex.gov.uk. This tender presents significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in consultancy and business support services. The Growth Hub service seeks providers who can deliver comprehensive business advice and diagnostic assessments tailored to the needs of local businesses, helping them navigate various support options. SMEs with the capability to offer one-on-one structured support and a coordinated multi-channel service are well-suited to compete for this contract. Being a Government grant-funded project, this is an excellent chance for businesses to secure a steady stream of work and contribute to economic growth in the region. ## Notice Essex County Council (ECC) intends to procure a specialist provider to provide Growth Hub support. Growth Hubs are an established business support service provided, which provide free and impartial signposting, information, and advice to all businesses looking to succeed, helping them to navigate the national and local support landscape. It is Government grant funded annually by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and provides a one stop shop for business support services that offers: * Information, navigation, and signposting via a coordinated, multi-channel service * One-to-one structured support to small and medium enterprises, incorporating a diagnostic assessment of business needs and advice and guidance. This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert providers to an opportunity to deliver the Growth Hub service for Essex County Council. The estimated launch date for the opportunity is April 2025. Please contact Craig Johnson at craig.johnson@essex.gov.uk to express an interest in the Growth Hub service. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6ef16fb8-4870-4397-a3da-658887e1325a | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Feb 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 28 Feb 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | CHELMSFORD | | Post town | Chelmsford | | Postcode | CM1 1QH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex | | Local authority | Chelmsford | | Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central | | Westminster constituency | Chelmsford | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services ## Release History - 12 Feb 2025 at 17:34 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6ef16fb8-4870-4397-a3da-658887e1325a ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6ef16fb8-4870-4397-a3da-658887e1325a 12th February 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://procontract.due-north.com/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-601f0889-a436-45d5-b9f7-ac3b252fc1ba.json.