New Markets 2 Delivery Support

Growth Platform are looking for an individual/company to deliver a Commercial Broker function, create a pipeline and deliver up to 25 grants to eligible businesses. So far Growth Platform have engaged with 812 business with 304 of those going on to receive a grant.

Growth Platform reserves the right to split the contract between a maximum of two suppliers' dependant on the responses received. If this is the case, we will engage with the preferred supplier to agree delivery targets.

Eligible SMEs are supported from application, through procurement to claim stage by a Growth Platform Commercial Broker, please see Annex 1 for the workflow. It is the Commercial Brokers role to;

• Develop a pipeline and support eligible high growth/high growth potential SMEs through the New Markets 2 programme.

• Work with eligible businesses to establish the commercial support needed to most effectively enable their business growth.

• Support business to complete the application process and evidence eligibility

• Assist businesses to accurately scope out the support they require to take their business forward. Agree overall and individual project objectives, timescales and resource requirements.

• Work with the business to undertake a competitive procurement exercise for commercial support required utilising the agreed scope of works, ensuring that they select the most appropriate provider for the support required based on agreed criteria.

• Procurement must be compliant with the ERDF programme and it will be the Commercial Broker's role to ensure that this is the case for all SMEs supported.

• Once procured, keep a watching brief on the project to ensure that delivery of the project is as agreed and in the case of variance determine appropriate intervention with input from Programmes and Compliance Manager.

• Once the project is completed ensure that all paperwork relating to the project is collected and retained in line with ERDF requirements. This will include agreed business eligibility, scope of work, competitive procurement process, completion of project, invoicing, payment, defrayal, and claims.

• Ensure all claims for ERDF contribution to the business for the service procured are complete, eligible and timely, so that the SME is reimbursed for this contribution as quickly as possible after completion - subject to the claims process.

• Use a web based CRM system to ensure no duplication, support delivery and record all SME interventions.