---
title: "XpoNorth Digital"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-032865"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-032865"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-032865.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-032865.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE"
published: "2022-08-05"
---

# XpoNorth Digital

Buyer: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-032865

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-032865)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-032865.json)

## Summary

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading the procurement process for the "XpoNorth Digital" project, aimed at providing business development consultancy services within the digital sector. Located in Inverness, the procurement is currently in the award stage following a completed tender, with a total contract value of £1,327,240 over a maximum duration of four years. The contract commenced on 1 August 2022, covering an initial period of two years with the option to extend for up to two additional years. The procurement process was executed through an open procedure.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses focused on digital consultancy, training, and advisory services, particularly those with expertise in enhancing digital practices within the creative sector. Companies that can offer innovative solutions to maximise the benefits of the crowd economy in the Highlands region would be particularly well-suited for this contract. Additionally, businesses that can demonstrate strong cybersecurity measures and solid management methodologies will have a competitive edge in responding to the tender's requirements.

## Notice

THIS IS A CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE AND AS SUCH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS COMPLETE. The XpoNorth Digital contract is delivered under the Northern Innovation Hub (NIH): the NIH is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal - a joint initiative supported by GBP315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, HIE and the University of the Highlands and Islands. The XpoNorth Digital programme has the specific intention of supporting businesses to develop digital practices and to maximise exploitation of the crowd economy. The services will be required from 1 August 2022 for an initial period of 2 years (until 31 July 2024), with HIE having the option to extend two times for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term (2+1+1 years - latest potential expiry date: 31 July 2026). The initial 2-year budget currently available to deliver this service was between GBP 438,000 and GBP 732,000 (excluding VAT). The budget includes funding from HIE to allow the services to be delivered across the whole Highlands and Islands region, although the volume of clients outside of the Highland Council area is currently limited due to funding.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The programme of activity will work with clients to: -Increase the impact of the crowd economy in the region - more effectively using consumers to buy, to test new ideas on and to promote the business / organisation/community. -Assess opportunities for digital innovation around the individual clients' current business. -Support the planning, development and delivery of new immersive content and experiences to engage consumers more effectively. -Encourage and support the development of new digital business models for the creative sector, including the use of platforms such as Patreon. -Access networks training and advice to maximise exploitation of IP and other assets digitally. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: HIE may require the supplier to provide additional services. Any such modification shall be in terms of Regulation 72 of Please see the Scope of Requirements for further details.

Renewal: The Contract will be awarded for an initial period of 2 years with HIE having the option to extend two times for a period or periods together not exceeding 1 year following the Initial Term (2+1+1 years).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021539-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Aug 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 23 May 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 18 Jul 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | HIE reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination of the contract or at the end of the contract period, including any extension period. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,464,000 |
| Lots value | £1,464,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,327,240 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE |
| Locality | INVERNESS |
| Post town | Inverness |
| Postcode | IV2 5NA |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Highland |
| Electoral ward | Inverness South |
| Westminster constituency | Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire |
| Delivery location | TLM6 Highlands and Islands |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | IRONWORKS VENUE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 73220000 - Development consultancy services
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
- 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services
- 79411100 - Business development consultancy services
- 80510000 - Specialist training services
- 80570000 - Personal development training services

## Release History

- 5 Aug 2022 at 11:00 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021539-2022
- 31 Mar 2022 at 10:13 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008650-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.hie.co.uk
- http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00313
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000684084
- https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/inverness-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court

## 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-h6vhtk-032865. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-032865.json.