--- title: "SME Social and Digital Support" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "THURROCK COUNCIL" published: "2021-11-17" --- # SME Social and Digital Support Buyer: THURROCK COUNCIL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e.json) ## Summary Thurrock Council is seeking to appoint an organisation through an open procedure tender titled "SME Social and Digital Support." This initiative, funded by the Welcome Back Fund (WBF), aims to enhance business resilience in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The procurement process is currently in the active tender stage, with submissions closing on 7 December 2021. Successful applications will support independent businesses across the borough of Thurrock, located in the East of England, by providing digital marketing and online sales support. The contract period is set to commence on 21 December 2021 and will run until 31 March 2022. This tender presents a prime opportunity for marketing agencies, web developers, and businesses with expertise in social media marketing to engage with local independent retailers facing challenges due to the pandemic. With many businesses in Thurrock lacking an online presence—21% of identified retailers have no online sales platform—there is significant potential for growth for companies that can assist in building the digital capabilities of these local businesses. The successful contract applicant will enhance the visibility of these retailers, ultimately contributing to increased footfall and sales in the area. ## Notice Thurrock Council has been awarded funding from Government under the Welcome Back Fund (WBF) to deliver projects within key location around the borough, with a view to improving business resilience to COVID-19, strengthening the local economy, improving the aesthetic of our towns and instilling confidence in local people that it is safe to visit and shop here. To re-energise our centres we will be organising local high street events, community created local artwork, improved street furniture to make the areas more welcoming and we will be running a major advertising and social media campaign from November 2021- March 2022 encouraging 'Thurrock to shop local'. An important element of this work is to help support independent businesses who are operating in our local high streets, many of whom have struggled to manage during COVID. We are looking to appoint an organisation that has expertise in this area and can support the objectives outlined below. This programme is looking to increase footfall and sales by providing local independent businesses them with a funded website/social media support package. We anticipate that this will offer the development or enhancement of their current online presence, marketing and social media. The council have undertaken a high -level assessment of the independent retailers present on the selected Thurrock high streets. This work identifies the business, the nature of the product sold, and the level at which they are currently using online or social media. This suggests that around 90 businesses are currently trading, of which 21% currently have an online sales platform - 20% have no online presence and the balance have Facebook and/or website information. This research work is being supplemented by the development of a local database of all independent high street businesses and a needs analysis, which will be issued by Thurrock Council in a separate procurement. This database and needs analysis findings will support the successful contract applicant. (NOTE the businesses selected for support must meet the ERDF SME criteria). The Welcome Back Fund is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Additional information: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/thurrockcouncil/aspx/Home Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/00bcf876-0856-4e01-8ce6-948effa9049f | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 17 Nov 2021 | | Submission deadline | 7 Dec 2021 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 21 Dec 2021 - 31 Mar 2022 | | 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 | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THURROCK COUNCIL | | Locality | ESSEX | | Post town | Romford | | Postcode | RM17 6SL | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH32 Thurrock | | Local authority | Thurrock | | Electoral ward | Grays Riverside | | Westminster constituency | Thurrock | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 98 - Other community, social and personal services ### Codes - 98300000 - Miscellaneous services ## Release History - 17 Nov 2021 at 09:44 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/00bcf876-0856-4e01-8ce6-948effa9049f ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/00bcf876-0856-4e01-8ce6-948effa9049f 17th November 2021 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/thurrockcouncil/aspx/ Additional information on how to apply for this contract ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/thurrockcouncil/aspx/Home ## 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-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b9cc9259-264a-46fb-bd67-c2f16613022e.json.