Leeds City Region Business Start-Up Support Programme

Prior Information Notice - Supplier Engagement SessionIntroduction:The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the CA), in partnership with the Ad:Venture Enterprise Programme, is seeking to appoint a delivery partner(s) to deliver a new Business Start-Up Support Programme across Leeds City Region (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield districts).Context:There has been an increase in demand for support from pre-start and start-up businesses since the start of the pandemic (40% increase into the LEP’s Business Support Service). Coupled with this, there is a recognised shortage of support for new-start businesses across Leeds City Region, particularly those that are not necessarily aiming for growth or high growth in the early stages of the enterprise. This programme will be focussed on such enterprises, with referrals routes to other more growth-oriented support being critical. Aim and Objectives:Ensure that anyone in Leeds City Region who wants to start a business can access good quality support and guidance to do so. Flowing from the above, we have the following objectives for this delivery opportunity:-1. Provide people who have decided to start a business in Leeds City Region with an appropriate level of support, ensuring that the key issues related to setting up and running a new enterprise are covered. 2. Deliver the support in an accessible and customer-focussed manner.3. Encompass all start-ups, irrespective of sector, growth potential or business model. 4. Engage with all parts of the City Region, including the most disadvantaged and outlying communities. 5. Engage with all demographic groups, including those with strong enterprise credentials and potential. 6. Utilise best practice and new / innovative approaches in the delivery of support to business start-ups. 7. Ensure that the programme complements and adds value to existing support for start-ups in Leeds City Region Timescales and Funding:It is anticipated that this will be an initial 18-month contract opportunity to a value of £1m, however this may be subject to change.At this stage, it is anticipated that delivery will commence in late Summer / early Autumn 2021.Outputs and Outcomes- New enterprises supported with a minimum of 6 hours of one-to-many support- New enterprises supported with a minimum of 9 hours of one-to-many and one-to-one support- New enterprises led by females- New enterprises led by people from BAME backgrounds - New jobs created, including the business owner/founder- New enterprises formed- New enterprises trading for +12 months Supplier Engagement Session:In order to provide further information and to answer questions relating to this opportunity we would like to invite potential participants to a supplier engagement session on the afternoon of 12th May 2021 via Microsoft Teams. Please contact: darren.wood@westyorks-ca.gov.uk to confirm attendance and once the attendance list is finalised a meeting invite will be sent through a minimum of 48 hours before the meeting.Your request to participate should include as a minimum –- Full Organisation name and address- Company registration number (where applicable)- Contact details of the participant/s including Name, Position/Job Title, Email address and contact telephone number.Please note: a maximum of 2 participants per organisations will be permissible.Please note this PIN is for prior information only. Any subsequent tender documentation in connection to this opportunity will go live on our e-tendering system, In-Tend, in due course. Please see below link and instructions on how to register as a new supplier on In-Tend ahead of the release date. To register click the following link and then click the ‘Register’ button – https://in-tendhost.co.uk/westyorkshireca/aspx/Home