University of Sunderland - Enterprise Consultants - AWARD

The University of Sunderland is seeking responses from organisations known to have experience and expertise supporting new business start-ups (student and graduate) with their initial business planning and early stage development. The Enterprise Place is a dedicated facility for business start-up within the University of Sunderland. It provides an environment where students and recent graduates of the University, who aspire to create and run their own businesses, can test, develop and refine their ideas and plans. The framework agreements will cover consultancy services through the provision of advice and guidance for pre and early start-up businesses based within The Enterprise Place. This could be on a one-to-one basis or be extended to include the delivery of specific workshops/dissemination sessions.

The University seeks to develop a framework agreement of single supplier appointments for the following consultancy services:-

Lot 1:- General business advice, planning and financial awareness. To include: traditional business planning as well as lean start up models such as the Business Model Canvas, an initial diagnosis, on-going appraisal and diagnostic of individuals business needs and also including basic accountancy and finance. (production of forecasts and financial modelling, book keeping systems and procedures, tax and legal registrations required when starting a new business, VAT and PAYE requirements).

Lot 2:- Human Resource Management (Advice and Guidance). Including, but not restricted to, recruitment and selection, sickness, absence management, hiring temporary workers, dealing with unsatisfactory performance of a colleague, rewarding performance, employment law, employment tribunal and HR Management.

Lot 3:- Marketing and Sales Support (Advice and Guidance). Including, but not restricted to, marketing campaign and strategy design/production, digital marketing and social media, copy writing and communication, market research and PR and including, but not restricted to, sales training (including telesales), sales coaching, networking and sales strategy.

Lot 4:- Social Enterprise (Advice and Guidance). Including, but not restricted to, legal structures, governance, tax, objectives, regulation, social value and impact, measurement and social return on investment, research, funding and feasibility assessment.

This opportunity is funded by the ERDF.