e-ITT for the provision of Wider Business Support - Fareham Borough Council

In response to the national restrictions caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic, Fareham Borough Council ('the Council') has been allocated Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding by the Government to support local economies and businesses adversely affected by restrictions resulting from the pandemic.

The Council has decided to split its allocation into three tranches which are as follows:

Wider business support is described as a scheme(s) designed to assist the business community and may include advice, guidance and skills training for businesses to support their ability to trade in changed circumstances.

The Council has allocated up to 20% of the ARG funding to the business support schemes and the value is estimated to be £464,932. The funding is to be spent between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2022.

The detail of the proposed Wider Business Support scheme, that is the subject of this open tender, was developed in consultation with businesses. The Council ran a short business survey to understand the support needs of existing Fareham businesses. The outcomes of the survey have been used to determine the scope of the scheme.

The Council's Economic Development team is inviting tenders, via the South East Business Portal, to deliver a range of business support schemes throughout the Borough. It is envisaged that a number of training providers and organisations who support businesses will be procured to provide support within a framework agreement, divided into five Lots. Bidders may bid for one or multiple lots.