--- title: "Creative Sector Services CIC (t/a Creative United) Take it away Scheme Credit Provider Contract" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "CREATIVE SECTOR SERVICES C.I.C." published: "2026-07-06" --- # Creative Sector Services CIC (t/a Creative United) Take it away Scheme Credit Provider Contract Buyer: CREATIVE SECTOR SERVICES C.I.C. Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b.json) ## Summary The procurement opportunity involves Creative Sector Services CIC, trading as Creative United, inviting tenders for the role of the credit provider for the "Take it away" Scheme. This initiative is aimed at providing consumer credit services to support the purchase of musical instruments and associated goods, helping individuals across the UK, particularly in England and Northern Ireland. The contract is set to commence on 1 November 2026, running for an initial 18 months with potential extensions up to 42 months. Businesses interested must submit their Procurement Specific Questionnaire by 17 July 2026, with the tender period closing on 14 August 2026. The procurement falls within the financial and insurance services industry, using a competitive procedure with negotiation as the procurement method. This tender represents a valuable opportunity for businesses specialising in financial and insurance services, particularly those experienced in credit provision. By engaging with the "Take it away" Scheme, the successful bidder can expand their portfolio by supporting a culturally enriching programme that promotes arts participation. It is particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises capable of negotiating terms through the selective procurement method. The successful bidder will leverage relationships with a network of musical instrument retailers, contributing to the wider music sector and aligning with strategic priorities such as supporting customers with lower income or disabilities. ## Notice A tender opportunity is offered by Creative Sector Services CIC (trading as Creative United), for the provision of consumer credit services for the Take it away Scheme (the Scheme) commencing 1 November 2026 for a period of 18 months, with provision for Creative United to extend the contract for two (2) further twelve (12) month periods (subject to performance review in accordance with the terms and conditions of contract) up to a maximum of forty-two(42) months in total. The Take it away Scheme is a publicly funded initiative designed to make it more affordable for people to get involved in learning and playing music by providing interest free loans of between PS100 and PS25,000 for the purchase of musical instruments, equipment, software any other associated goods or services they may need (such as a block of tuition) in order to get started or further develop their music practice. Creative United's objective is to use the Take it away scheme to support creative livelihoods by providing affordable access to musical instruments to people of all ages and abilities across the UK, working in partnership with musical instrument retailers and other organisations across the music sector. The Scheme is open to all qualifying UK residents over the age of 18 (subject to status) and made available via a network of approved musical instrument retailers in England. A variation of the scheme in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland is available exclusively to Northern Ireland Residents over the age of 18. The awarded contract would cover the provision of the Scheme through the network of retailers in England and in Northern Ireland. The opportunity may also exist during the term of the awarded contract for the Scheme to be extended to include a network of retailers in Wales and/or Scotland subject to the agreement and financial support of their respective Arts Councils (or other funders) in due course. For the avoidance of doubt the inclusion of Scotland and Wales is not guaranteed but is included as a potential enlargement of the Scheme for the purposes of this procurement, subject to the caveat above. Under our current funding agreement with ACE, our priority is to support customers that fall into one or more of the following target categories: - Customers earning below the median UK wage of PS34,000 - Customers living in areas of low participation in the arts (as reported by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, and the Office of National Statistics - Customers purchasing a musical instrument for the first time - Customers that identify as disabled (or purchasing on behalf of a disabled person) To apply: You should complete and return a copy of our attached Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) by 17 July 2026. All supporting documents including the Invitation to Tender (ITT) which includes the specifics of the contract are available to download from this notice. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e60b6125-fdfe-4d8b-8737-3159b57fd1d7 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive procedure with negotiation (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 6 Jul 2026 | | Submission deadline | 14 Aug 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Nov 2026 - 30 Apr 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £157,500 | | 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 | CREATIVE SECTOR SERVICES C.I.C. | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | Central London | | Postcode | WC2R 1LA | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | 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), TLN Northern Ireland | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 66 - Financial and insurance services ### Codes - 66000000 - Financial and insurance services ## Release History - 6 Jul 2026 at 16:49 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e60b6125-fdfe-4d8b-8737-3159b57fd1d7 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e60b6125-fdfe-4d8b-8737-3159b57fd1d7 6th July 2026 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/7fa9a57c-d5ea-4616-84c3-4fbe565b88bb Invitation to Tender (Competitive Flexible Procedure) Creative Sector Services CIC (t/a Creative United) Take it away Scheme Credit Provider Contract Tender Ref: CUTIA/2026 Deadline for receipt of Tenders: 12:00 noon, 14 August 2026 - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/64ac3be8-f5ec-45cf-98f8-dcc8bb088b07 Procurement Specific Questionnaire (CUTIA 2026) - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/3199009e-318d-45a3-8490-e61ddae419ef Appendix 3_Take it away process flows for subsidised and unsubsidised products - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/aa1805b1-acda-4500-9467-fdee52b6f000 - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/7fe5ce10-62b4-4970-9288-79f58edd93fc - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/4cb8f8a4-557f-4814-8b61-45a15db4ac32 ## Notice URLs - https://www.creativeunited.org.uk/procurement-notice/ ## 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-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-d7a9ea97-d876-429e-a169-e110844fde0b.json.