--- title: "Provision of Consultancy Services for Pay and Grading Review" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "SOMERSET COUNCIL" published: "2025-08-28" --- # Provision of Consultancy Services for Pay and Grading Review Buyer: SOMERSET COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202.json) ## Summary Somerset Council has completed the procurement stage for the "Provision of Consultancy Services for Pay and Grading Review," with Korn Ferry (UK) Limited being awarded the contract. The award was published on 28 August 2025, with the contract period running from 29 August 2025 to 29 February 2028. This initiative, classified under CPV code 79000000, relates to business services in law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing, and security. The project is part of Somerset Council's 'Improvement and Transformation Workforce Programme,' aimed at establishing a new pay and grading structure to enhance the employer value proposition and modernise pay and grading by 2026/27. The contracting process focused on the delivery location primarily within the United Kingdom but includes regions such as British Oversea Territories, Channel Islands, Europe, Isle of Man, and others. This contract offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in human resources and consultancy services, particularly those with experience in complex pay and grading reviews within the public sector. Firms with a proven track record of implementing comprehensive reward transformation programmes in similar authorities might find this particularly pertinent. The contract, which aims to ensure fair pay practices and aid in talent retention and recruitment for Somerset Council, indicates a deliberate move towards enhancing the working environment and securing value-for-money services, potentially setting a precedent for future projects in the public sector. SMEs and VCSEs are not highlighted in the suitability criteria, signifying that larger, established consultancy firms may have a competitive advantage for similar future opportunities. ## Notice Somerset Council is considering the appointment of a consultancy partner to assist with a Pay and Grading review. Somerset Council is a predominantly rural unitary Council which came into being on 1 April 2023, bringing together the services previously provided by the four district councils; Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West & Taunton, and South Somerset, alongside the services provided by Somerset County Council. Following the creation of the Unitary Authority the council has been going through a period of transformation and has recently completed a review of structure and roles. Following a whole Council restructure, staffing levels from 1 April will be c4670 FTE. A high level structure chart is attached. We are currently considering an approach to developing and implementing a Total Reward Transformation programme for Somerset Council and may wish to seek support to deliver a complex and extensive 18-24-month programme of work that will result in an improved employer value proposition (EVP) and modernised pay and grading structure in 2026/27. The development and implementation of a fair and equitable Total Reward strategy, including a pay and grading review will ensure that the Council is able to recruit, retain and motivate a modern workforce with the goal of ensuring that the best possible value for money services are available to Somerset residents. The Total Reward Programme and Pay and Grading Review are planned projects within the 'Improvement and Transformation Workforce Programme', The implementation of the strategy will involve two main areas of work: * Workstream 1: Establishing a new pay and grading structure, which will include: * New, evaluated job descriptions for all jobs in the Council * An updated, sustainable approach for ensuring all jobs are properly and fairly evaluated, that is legally compliant, protects the Council against equal pay risks and that fosters a fair working environment * A costed and affordable pay and grading structure that is fit for purpose and supports the Council in its recruitment and retention goals Workstream 2: Integrating other terms & conditions (includes; pay enhancements & allowances, leave/time off, travel & subsistence, professional subscriptions, working time, financial and non-financial staff benefits and recognition schemes) Should we seek to appoint a consultant to assist in the delivery of such a programme, the chosen supplier must be able to demonstrate proven experience of the successful delivery of the same or similar work in a comparable authority. Following the recent market engagement with interested consultants, a Further Competition is now being launched, with consultants who expressed interest, under Lot 5 (Human Resources) of the Crown Commercial Service Framework RM6187 - Management Consultancy Framework Three (MCF3) ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ee351a85-98ca-4a3c-b369-8dd2e3cb52fe | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 28 Aug 2025 | | Submission deadline | 24 Jun 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 27 Aug 2025 | | Contract period | 28 Aug 2025 - 29 Feb 2028 | | 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 | Complete | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SOMERSET COUNCIL | | Locality | TAUNTON | | Post town | Taunton | | Postcode | TA1 4DY | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset | | ITL 3 | TLK62 Somerset | | Local authority | Somerset | | Electoral ward | Bishop's Hull & Taunton West | | Westminster constituency | Taunton and Wellington | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | KORN FERRY (UK | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ## Release History - 28 Aug 2025 at 08:28 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ee351a85-98ca-4a3c-b369-8dd2e3cb52fe ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ee351a85-98ca-4a3c-b369-8dd2e3cb52fe 28th August 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder - http://ContractFinder Contract Finder ## Notice URLs - http://Contract ## 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-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-90f8df71-0e89-4fdb-a4b0-6a6169a30202.json.