CIOS Growth Hub (Phase 2) Request for quotation Project evaluation and summative assessment Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council wishes to commission ERDF project evaluation and summative assessment services for the CIOS Growth Hub (2) project.

The project is delivering an investment of £3,487,750 for the provision of a Growth Hub in CIOS. This project was a response to ERDF Call reference OC05R17P 0600 under Priority Axis PA3 IP3d.

The project's start date was 1st October 2018 and its Activity End Date, Practical Completion Date and Financial Completion Date are respectively;

The CIOSGH encourages and supports businesses to grow, innovate and invest through a one-stop service for information and guidance on and access to business support provision. It does this through a content-rich website and social media activity backed by a telephone and face-to-face/virtual service delivered by a team of experienced Business Connectors across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Target beneficiaries are all eligible pre-starts, start-ups, micro businesses and SMEs, including social enterprises, throughout the CIOS LEP area. The Growth Hub team comprises a management function, Business Connectors supported by marketing & communications specialists and a back-office staff. The Business Connectors offer a long-term client relationship opportunity for businesses with growth potential. The website operation is contracted out to a third-party web development company but managed by the Operations Manager. The team has developed and changed over the life of the project to reflect the client need and operational landscape. The central task of the Growth Hub is to simplify access to business support provision, for growth and growth potential businesses. This is achieved via a detailed diagnostic, action planning and referral service for eligible criterion businesses. It is planned to service;

In September 2020 CIOSGH also launched the ERDF COVID Kickstart Grant Scheme. This was a 'child project' through additional funds made available through DHLUC across all Growth Hubs in England for COVID Recovery. CIOSGH was awarded funds to administer circa 480 grants to businesses under two schemes: