Soft Market Testing for Growth Hub- 2025 (a Business Support Service)

Essex County Council (ECC) intends to procure a specialist provider to provide Growth Hub support. Growth Hubs are an established business support service provided, which provide free and impartial signposting, information, and advice to all businesses looking to succeed, helping them to navigate the national and local support landscape. It is Government grant funded annually by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and provides a one stop shop for business support services that offers: • Information, navigation, and signposting via a coordinated, multi-channel service • One-to-one structured support to small and medium enterprises, incorporating a diagnostic assessment of business needs and advice and guidance.

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to alert providers to an opportunity to deliver the Growth Hub service for Essex County Council.

The estimated launch date for the opportunity is April 2025.

Please contact Craig Johnson at craig.johnson@essex.gov.uk to express an interest in the Growth Hub service.