---
title: "Engagement and Marketing Activities"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06a818"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06a818"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a818.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a818.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT"
published: "2026-05-28"
---

# Engagement and Marketing Activities

Buyer: THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06a818

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## Summary

The University of Kent, located in Canterbury, has concluded a direct award contract for "Engagement and Marketing Activities" within the services category, with HYBRID NEWS LIMITED as the supplier. This procurement process, valuing £1,500,000 (excluding VAT), was aimed at hiring a strategic media agency partner to enhance the University's recruitment cycle through integrated marketing services. The contract, specifically targeting UK regions within a single lot, has been awarded and will be active from 9th June 2026 to 30th April 2027. This procurement aligns with the UK's legislation under the legal basis 2023/54. The award was completed on 28th May 2026 following a direct award method due to pre-existing supplier arrangements that provide consistency and allow a swift and integrated strategic marketing approach.

This tender presents substantial business opportunities, particularly for SMEs specialising in marketing management consultancy services. By securing this contract, HYBRID NEWS LIMITED will deliver a comprehensive suite of marketing, planning, and optimisation services, thus expanding their portfolio and influence in the public sector market. Businesses equipped to provide integrated media planning services with experience in target-driven recruitment campaigns stand to gain significantly by leveraging their expertise to meet the University's specific requirements and performance goals, thereby paving the way for sustained growth and new client acquisition opportunities in the educational sector.

## Notice

The University of Kent seeks approval to appoint a single strategic media agency partner to deliver an integrated programme of search and social activity, media planning, marketing optimisation, and insight services to support Clearing and in-cycle recruitment activity. The contract will run from mid/end April through to the end of April, covering the full recruitment cycle including Clearing, ECD deadlines, and the lates period. Total contract value is PS1,500,000 (ex VAT)

### Procurement Information

A need to consolidate digital marketing suppliers and to pivot marketing strategy following external factors impacting recruitment numbers. A need to move quickly and decisively, with a supplier already in place for consistency of approach. To provide services related to Clearing Activities. The University of Kent reviewed the performance of its current media operating model, which involves working with two separate agencies across recruitment and brand campaigns. Analysis of recent cycles and campaign data shows that this dual agency approach was no longer delivering the level of integration, agility, or performance required to meet increasingly challenging recruitment targets. Fragmentation across planning, optimisation, and reporting has limited our ability to respond quickly to market shifts and to maximise the impact of our investment.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050513-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 May 2026 |
| Contract period | 8 Jun 2026 - 30 Apr 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,500,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT |
| Locality | CANTERBURY |
| Post town | Canterbury |
| Postcode | CT2 7NZ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent |
| ITL 3 | TLJ44 East Kent |
| Local authority | Canterbury |
| Electoral ward | Blean Forest |
| Westminster constituency | Canterbury |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | HYBRID NEWS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79413000 - Marketing management consultancy services

## Release History

- 28 May 2026 at 15:41 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050513-2026
- 28 May 2026 at 15:31 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050501-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050513-2026
  28th May 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050501-2026
  28th May 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://hybrid.co
- http://www.kent.ac.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-06a818. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06a818.json.