---
title: "Business Gateway Argyll and Bute - One to Many and One to One Specialist Support Framework Agreement - 2023 - 2025-7"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03865a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03865a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03865a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03865a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL"
published: "2023-05-18"
---

# Business Gateway Argyll and Bute - One to Many and One to One Specialist Support Framework Agreement - 2023 - 2025-7

Buyer: ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03865a

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03865a)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03865a.json)

## Summary

The Argyll and Bute Council has completed a procurement process for the Business Gateway Argyll and Bute - One to Many and One to One Specialist Support Framework Agreement 2023-2025-7. The procurement involved the establishment of a framework contract for specialist support to SMEs in various areas such as marketing, PR, digital, finance, HR, and more. The procurement stage was marked as "complete", and the Council is based in Argyll and Bute, UK. The key dates included the award on 18th May 2023.

This tender presents opportunities for businesses, especially SMEs, involved in marketing, PR, digital, finance, HR, and related fields. Businesses keen on offering specialised support services to SMEs can compete for contracts under different lots. The procurement method used was an open procedure, allowing multiple suppliers to bid for the framework agreement. The framework aims at fostering growth and resilience in businesses through tailored support programmes and services.

## Notice

The Council requires to establish a framework contract for the provision of specialist support to SMEs, across a variety of subjects and in a variety of ways. Subject areas include: Marketing, PR, Digital (including DigitalBoost), Finance and Funding, Business Strategy - Growth & Resilience, HR, Internationalisation, Procurement & Supplier Management and an Intensive Growth Programme.

### Lot Information

Marketing

Lot 1 - Marketing - developing a marketing plan, competitor and market analysis, customer profiling and segmentation, develeoping the marketing mix, reviewing and improving current marketing activity, branding and brand development, implementing offline marketing activity, choosing and briefing marketing contractors.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

PR

Lot 2 - PR - planning and delivering PR, storytelling and practical techniques for writing content (marketing literature, press releases, blogging), managing negative PR, reviewing and improving current PR activity choosing and briefing PR contractors.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

Digital (including DigitalBoost)

Lot 3 - Digital (including DigitalBoost) - content management tools, website building, development and review, using social media for business, online trading. Planning digital marketing, social media platforms, improving website performance, SEO, digital and video content creation, app development and usage, new technologies. IT connectivity, cyber security, infrastructure and communication equipment, choosing and briefing contractors.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

Finance and Funding

Lot 4 - Finance and Funding - understanding book-keeping requirements and management accounts, financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions, financial business planning. Funding support - identifying the funding needed, different types of funding (traditional lending, public sector, venture capital, new funding models such as crowdfunding), supporting the preparation of a proposal/application. Tax obligations for SMEs, including self-assessment. Profit analysis, debt and winding up procedures.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

HR

Lot 5 - HR - becoming an employer, managing staff, legislation, leadership, managing change, performance management, redundancy.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

Business Strategy - Growth & Resilience

Lot 6 - Business Strategy - Growth & Resilience - setting objectives and organisational goals, evaluating current performance, identifying and assessing opportunities, defining priorities, creating action plans to achieve growth and resiience and identifying the resources required.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

Internationalisation

Lot 7 - Internationalisation - preparing for export, choosing markets, identifying opportunities, international sales online, finding agents, distributors and suppliers, legislative requirements, importing.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

Tendering and Supply Chain

Lot 8 - Tendering and Supply Chain - understanding and preparing for the tender process (private & public sector), creating tender documents, analysis of tender feedback and improving bids, managing supply chains, expenditure analysis, sourcing suppliers, contracts and agreements, added value and community benefits.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

Intensive Growth Programme

Lot 9 - Intensive Growth and Resilience Programme - to help business owners achieve a step change in their approach through a short, structured, intensive programme of support. It should be aimed at businesses looking to increase their ability to cope with a changing business environment, including rising costs, and identify the right opportunities to develop to grow the business. The programme should combine using a range of tools and techniques with expert support, and be tailored to participants, facilitating them to create a practical and deliverable approach to driving growth and sustainability in their business. The programme should include the following key stages: exploration of current performance and evaluation of opportunities, identification of development priorities for selected opportunities, scoping requirement, confirming strategy and identification of further support for development By the end of the programme participants should have defined the capabilities, capacity and resources needed to develop opportunities and build resilience, and be clear on their next steps to deliver. This will be supported by a 3-month review of progress and ongoing Business Gateway adviser support. Where a requirement for additional expert advice of more than half a day on a topic covered by this framework is identified during the Intensive Growth Programme, a referral should be made via Business Gateway to the appointed supplier on the framework for that topic.

Renewal: Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014181-2023 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 May 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 13 Mar 2023 |
| Future notice date | 23 Jan 2023 |
| Award date | 8 May 2023 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027. |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £300,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL |
| Locality | LOCHGILPHEAD |
| Post town | Paisley |
| Postcode | PA31 8RT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Argyll and Bute |
| Electoral ward | Mid Argyll |
| Westminster constituency | Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 7 |
| Supplier names | COMSTERIA; DELFINITY; LORNAL; NSDESIGN; TINTO PROCUREMENT; TUMINDS; UXL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 80 - Education and training services
- 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

### Codes

- 72221000 - Business analysis consultancy services
- 72222300 - Information technology services
- 72223000 - Information technology requirements review services
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
- 79342000 - Marketing services
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
- 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services
- 79411100 - Business development consultancy services
- 79413000 - Marketing management consultancy services
- 79414000 - Human resources management consultancy services
- 79416000 - Public relations services
- 79416100 - Public relations management services
- 79416200 - Public relations consultancy services
- 79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services
- 79990000 - Miscellaneous business-related services
- 79996000 - Business organisation services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80510000 - Specialist training services
- 80522000 - Training seminars
- 80532000 - Management training services
- 92312212 - Services related to the preparation of training manuals

## Release History

- 18 May 2023 at 11:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014181-2023
- 9 Feb 2023 at 13:28 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004024-2023
- 18 Nov 2022 at 10:23 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032731-2022

## Notice URLs

- http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000721906
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00063

## 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-03865a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03865a.json.