Consultancy Business Support: Investment Readiness- Tender for ERDF X03120PR

In order to support the delivery of the High Growth Centre ERDF project, the High Growth Centre at Thornton Science Park, University of Chester wishes to commission consultancy services to deliver business support in investment readiness to leaders and managers in existing or pre start high growth businesses in the advanced manufacturing, engineering, environment and automotive sectors, as part of an ERDF project, to be delivered by 30th June 2015. The support should enable companies to understand investment readiness and equip them to successfully move towards investment. The project is in receipt of ERDF grant funding to support the delivery of the programme and is therefore working to a limited budget.

The support is required to take the form of one to multiple attendees sessions and subsequently 1:1 business support if needed. We have a particular need to target new (pre start) businesses therefore consultants should demonstrate they have ability to tailor activity to this client group.

The appointed consultant/s will be required to provide Investment Readiness consultancy services that will include the following suggested areas:

• Investor Presentations • Financial Promotions • A Lawyers Guide to Investment • Types of Funding • Financial Promotions • Debt and Equity Lending • Operational Businesses • Pitch Presentations • Due Diligence • EIS and Tax Guidance • Tax Guidelines • What Happens Next / Action Planning

Additional information: Tenderers are requested to note that the project is in receipt of matched ERDF grant funding to support the delivery of the programme and is therefore working to a limited budget.

As a guide the maximum budget allowed for this activity is up to £30,000. However, this depends on contracted hours agreed between the appointed consultant/s and the University of Chester. For this reason, the overall contract value may be significantly lower.

The tender simply sets a maximum spend for the support pot from which you will specify how many hours you are willing to commit. The level of work cannot be guaranteed.

Actual demand and volumes may vary, as over the period of the contract term, the demand from start-ups and SMEs may reduce from the total hours specified. For this reason, whilst the appointed provider/s will be awarded the contract for the duration of this contract term, no guarantee can therefore be given regarding the volume, nor value, of business placed. The appointed provider/s may therefore be required to supply requirements, below, or in addition to, what has been initially specified, within this tender.

Requirements for consultancy hours, contract values and timescales for contract start and end dates may therefore be subject to change.

Full details and award criteria are stated within the tender documents.

To apply and to participate in this tender opportunity, all applicants must register on the "in-tend" e-tendering portal to access the tender documents. Please note that where you may have previously registered with In-Tend, please ensure that your registration does include being registered to view opportunities for the University of Chester. Registration to this site is free for suppliers. Once registered, please download the quotation documents. These must be completed and returned together with any supporting documents via the In-Tend e-tendering portal by 10.00am, Monday 27th April 2015 - www.in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofchester. There is Help/Guidance on how to use the supplier site on the ‘Help’ section of the site. Alternatively, for technical questions, In-tend Support can help suppliers and is open Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm (excluding Bank Holidays) - 0845 557 8079 / 0114 407 0065 / [email protected].