---
title: "Independent Evaluation of the AHRC Creative Communities Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078640"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078640"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078640.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078640.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Northumbria University"
published: "2026-10-13"
---

# Independent Evaluation of the AHRC Creative Communities Programme

Buyer: Northumbria University  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078640

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## Summary

Northumbria University at Newcastle upon Tyne commissioned an independent evaluation of the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Creative Communities Programme. The work is research consultancy: the evaluator is to assess the programme over its five-year period. The award is classified as research consultancy services. The delivery location is recorded as the United Kingdom, with no more specific place identified. The buyer is Northumbria University, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. This requirement is for evaluation of a defined creative communities programme rather than general university research support, so it is most relevant to consultancies with expertise in independent programme evaluation and research.

The procurement is complete and a supplier has been selected. Harlow Consulting was awarded the contract, which is active. The contract was signed on 28 July 2026 and runs from 3 August 2026 to 2 August 2031. Its value is £34,000 excluding VAT and £41,000 including VAT. The procurement was described as below threshold; the specific procedure is recorded as unknown. It was organised as one lot, which is complete. The recorded award concerns research consultancy services. The evaluation criteria and any eligibility requirements are not stated in the available procurement information.

This award shows Northumbria University buying an independent, multi-year evaluation of the AHRC Creative Communities Programme through a below-threshold procurement. Harlow Consulting, an SME, was selected. Suppliers seeking to compete for a similar requirement from this buyer would need to demonstrate credible research consultancy capability and the ability to evaluate a programme independently over an extended period. Relevant strengths would include planning and delivering evaluation work across the programme lifecycle and producing evidence that can support assessment of its performance. The contract indicates a focused, single-lot commission rather than a broad programme of services, so a supplier’s proposition should be proportionate to a defined evaluation brief and sustained delivery.

## Notice

To carry out an independent Evaluation of the AHRC Creative Communities Programme over a 5-year period

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096399-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - unknown |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 3 Aug 2026 - 2 Aug 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £34,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Northumbria University |
| Locality | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE |
| Postcode area | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Postcode | NE1 8ST |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside |
| Local authority | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Electoral ward | Monument |
| Westminster constituency | Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Harlow Consulting |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73210000 - Research consultancy services

## Release History

- 13 Oct 2026 at 10:27 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096399-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096399-2026
  13th October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-078640. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078640.json.