---
title: "Framework Agreement for Business Support Consultancy Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0419cd"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0419cd"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0419cd.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0419cd.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2024-05-03"
---

# Framework Agreement for Business Support Consultancy Services

Buyer: NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0419cd

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## Summary

North Ayrshire Council is implementing a framework agreement for Business Support Consultancy Services, focusing on Financial Management, Business Strategy, Digital and Social Media Support, Digital Transformation, Procurement & Tender Support, HR Support, Energy Efficiency, Carbon Accounting, Workplace Development & Training, ISO/Quality Management, and Exporting & International Strategy. The procurement stage is complete, and active contracts have been awarded for various lots. The latest tender update extended response deadlines by 1 day due to a system error.

This procurement opportunity offers business growth potential for consultancy firms specialised in various areas such as financial planning, business strategy, digital marketing, HR development, energy efficiency, carbon reduction, workplace training, and international market expansion. Businesses with expertise in quality management, skilled workforce development, and sustainable solutions are well-suited to compete for these contracts and provide valuable services to North Ayrshire Council.

## Notice

North Ayrshire Council (NAC) is seeking to implement a framework agreement for the provision of Business Support Consultancy Services as detailed in this Invitation to Tender. The Council currently has a contract in place for this requirement, which is due to expire on 9th February 2024, therefore the requirement is being re-tendered.

### Lot Information

Lot 1 - Financial Management / Analysis

Financial Management: support is required to enable businesses to develop and refine financial management skills, such as an understanding of financial statements and cash-flow as well as the application of sales, pricing, costing, interest and borrowings, taxation, investment and performance measurements. Financial Readiness: business support will be required to allow interrogation of their forecasting methodologies and assessing their fitness for purpose in terms of their effectiveness in predicting future performance. Preparing for Investment: information and support to prepare businesses for investment as an attractive proposition for potential investors and loan funders. Alternative Finance: information and support around the main forms of alternative business funding for SMEs, including short to long-term loans/debt/equity, asset finance, invoice financing, advice around self-investment and exploring available grant assistance. Taxation: providing support to businesses across any taxation issues that they may have during their business cycle.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 2 - Business Strategy & Business Development Support

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Strategic Planning: this may involve support relating to challenging existing approaches, developing new strategies and performance measurement. Business Growth / Productivity: growth / productivity gains can be achieved by either boosting the top line or revenue of the business with greater product sales or service income, or by increasing the bottom line or profitability of the operation by minimising costs - beneficial to help businesses explore both options. Organisational Management: assisting with the organisational management activity that is used to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working toward common goals, and establish agreement around intended outcomes/results. Business Development: analysing current client base, identifying a potential sales pipeline, qualifying lead opportunities, producing a value proposition and clearly demonstrating a USP for the business. Change Management: intervention to help a business move through the growth life-cycle, ensuring due consideration is made to the impact of change on the business, and its people, because of growth.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 3 - Marketing and Branding Support

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Market Analysis capability - including market research and surveys. Developing Marketing Strategies (incorporating traditional offline areas of the marketing mix, such as advertising, print, PR) General Digital Marketing (including knowledge of websites, SEO, analytics and ecommerce and social media platforms Target market and customer development (including developing customer personas, user journeys etc) Branding (including working with clients to create a brief, business values, band positioning, mission statement and USPs; and conducting brand audits) Content creation (both online and offline materials, including copywriting, tone of voice, blogs, podcasts, image creation etc)

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 4 - Digital and Social Media Support

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Social Media principles and knowledge of all current tools and platforms Search Engine Optimisation Best Practice Developing Digital Marketing Strategies Cyber Security Principles Artificial Intelligence Tools & Tactics for Digital Marketing Google Analytics 4 and other data analytics tools Web Design & Development tools and Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress, WIX, Squarespace, Shopify) Ecommerce and off the shelf platforms and marketplaces (e.g., Ebay, Amazon and Etsy) Mobile web development (including mobile apps) Email marketing

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 5 - Digital Transformation & IT

Examples of topics that are offered under Information and Digital Technology are: Improvements in efficiency and productivity through Digital Capabilities, including automation and artificial intelligence IT systems and process advice Support to increase productivity with digital technology, including epos systems, cloud accountancy and other cloud-based software.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 6 - Procurement & Tender Support

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Review Current Tender Library: reviewing existing tender documentation and suggest best practice amendments. Support on how to identify key future contract opportunities, ensuring Public Contracts Scotland profile is up to date, how to complete an SPD, deciding on what opportunities to bid/tender for and improving business visibility within the public sector. General Procurement Support: evaluate past tendering performance and providing feedback on improvements, interpreting tender feedback and incorporating this into future bids. Live Tenders: advice and support on how to complete live opportunities, SPDs and Quick Quotes, helping businesses decide if they should bid, registering on other procurement portals and producing best tender documents possible.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 7 - HR Support

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: HR Policy: reviewing existing HR processes and policies, ensure they are fit for purpose and cover mandatory legal obligations. Employee Engagement: enable implementation of appraisals, how to broker and manage tough discussions, developing clear roles and responsibilities for all staff and development and of employee handbooks. Performance Management: improving individual employee performance and linking this to employee roles and responsibilities and contractual obligations, workforce relationship building and employee consultation projects.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 8 - Family Business and Succession Planning Support

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Family Business Support Governance & Structure: creating the correct structures and practices needed to achieve best practice in governance of a family business, how to view the business as a family and as a business, development of a shared purpose, defining employee and family roles. Succession Planning succession planning, conflict resolution, next generation career and skills development, developing family communications and planning an elegant exit. Succession Planning Support Existing Business Position: formulating exit strategies, preparing business for sale, business continuity and safe-guarding people and assets. Business Structure: provide support to help determine the assignment and coordination of roles, power and responsibilities within a business. Define how information flows between the different levels of management. Board Development: value and creation of a board, or recruitment of a non-executive director. Review composition and effectiveness at both an individual and group level. Business Continuity: how to deal with disruptions to supply chains, reputation, loss of premises or loss of technology. Risk Management: enable businesses to make well-informed decisions and to identify and protect the most critical aspects of their operations. Mitigating or reducing risks to an acceptable level can create more agile businesses.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 9 - Energy efficiency and EPC Services

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the provision of the following: Ad-hoc Energy Efficiency Audit Reporting services EPC Rating services

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 12 - ISO/Quality Management Consultancy & Training

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Support and advice for North Ayrshire businesses with a desire to achieve ISO/Quality Management accreditation. This will involve supporting businesses/organisations with the development, documentation and implementation of quality management systems where needed, prior to application for ISO/Quality Management accreditation.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 13 - Exporting and International Strategy

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Support businesses to access overseas markets, supporting the opportunity to reach a wider customer base and increase sales. Support for Exporting, including documentation. Market Analysis, Strategy and Development.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 10 - Carbon Accounting and Carbon Reduction Strategy

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Carbon Auditing/Accounting Net Zero Route Mapping Carbon Reduction Strategies

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

Lot 11 - Workplace Development & Training Support

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Skills Mapping of Business/Employees: reviewing existing skills and talent within a business, leadership development, review of business culture, internal project management, capacity building, people development and productivity improvements. Leadership and Management: as the business grows, so does the need for strong leadership and guidance. Support to equip owners and entrepreneurs with the skills required to develop and achieve key business aspirations. Productivity: plans and processes to improve productivity, identifying CIPD opportunities, implementing new ideas and structures.

Renewal: Option to extend for up to an additional 24 months.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014401-2024 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 3 May 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 14 Dec 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Apr 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | 6 months prior to framework end |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £400,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £468,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL |
| Locality | IRVINE |
| Post town | Kilmarnock |
| Postcode | KA12 8EE |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |
| Local authority | North Ayrshire |
| Electoral ward | Irvine South |
| Westminster constituency | Central Ayrshire |
| Delivery location | TLM93 North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 29 |
| Supplier names | 1.THOROUGH BRAND; BIG POND DIGITAL; BOOTH WELSH AUTOMATION; BUSINESS SUCCESS PARTNERSHIP; CARBONZONE; CAUGHEY SOLUTIONS; CJM PROJECT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT; CONCEPT HR SOLUTIONS; ENTERPRISE NORTH EAST TRUST; FERGUSON KING CONSULTING; GAP COMMUNICATIONS; GOACO GROUP; GSM (UK) ASSOCIATES; INTEND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT; J&G3; KATIE BELL HR; MABBETT & ASSOCIATES LTD (MAIN QUICK QUOTE CONTACT; MACDONALD STRATEGY PARTNERS; MANAGED IT EXPERTS; MAUREEN JOHNSTONE HR & EXECUTIVE COACHIN; NSDESIGN; P&Z CONSULTING; SCMG; STEWART MILLER ASSOCIATES (SCOTLAND; SWECO; TINTO PROCUREMENT; UXL; WHITEWALL MARKETING; ZOE STIRTON |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 66 - Financial and insurance services
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 66170000 - Financial consultancy, financial transaction processing and clearing-house services
- 71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
- 79413000 - Marketing management consultancy services
- 79414000 - Human resources management consultancy services
- 79418000 - Procurement consultancy services
- 85312330 - Family-planning services

## Release History

- 3 May 2024 at 14:33 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014401-2024
- 15 Nov 2023 at 10:11 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033732-2023
- 14 Nov 2023 at 16:47 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033688-2023

## Notice URLs

- http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf
- http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00337
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000750273
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/

## 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-0419cd. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0419cd.json.