QU215 - Evaluation of a GBSLEP Pilot Programme to increase business innovation in key growth industries - AWARD

The Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership ('the LEP') is seeking quotations from suitably qualified organisations to undertake an 'Evaluation of a GBSLEP Pilot Programme to increase business innovation in key growth industries' which will include innovation 'challenge events', company-centric innovation support and small innovation grant awards.

The pilot programme responds to consultancy findings (Optimat 2018) which identified:

• Industry demand for challenge-led events capable of stimulating demand-led innovation projects including via cross-sector engagement and collaboration; • A lack of company-centric innovation support in the GBSLEP area; • Need and demand for small scale innovation grants

Bidding consultants are required to submit their proposed methodology for delivering the work requirement which will need to include:

• Contextual review of the policy context, evidence base and rationale for the pilot programme; • Review of the pilot programme delivery plans and arrangements including the selected provider(s) event proposals; arrangements for selecting SME-led innovation projects for follow-on support and the grant arrangements for awarding the small innovation grant awards; • Consultation with the provider organisation(s) pre and post-delivery to understand the pilot programme delivery plans and rationale and learning from the pilot programme; • Survey of SME beneficiaries of the programme at key milestones including post event delivery, post innovation support - immediately and six months following to establish programme impact • SME-led innovation project case studies

The pilot programme will be delivered over 9 months between June 2019 and February 2020 and the evaluation contract will be for a longer period of 15 months commencing June 2019 until August 2020 so that the business impact of the programme can be evaluated

Registration and use of in-tend is free. All correspondence for this procurement process must be via the in-tend correspondence function. If you are unable to register with in-tend please either email us at cps@birmingham.gov.uk or call 0121 464 8000.

If you are interested in tendering please click on the following link to access the Council's tender Portal:- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/birminghamcc/ and submit your details to register as a bidder. We will send you a log on and password so you can download the quotation.

Your completed quotation should be returned by 5pm on 17th May 2019 via the 'in-tend' system https://in-tendhost.co.uk/birminghamcc