Pre - Market Engagement to inform Belfast City Council’s Proposed Strategy for Procuring Enterprise and Business Growth Services

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to notify the market of Belfast City Council’s intention to hold a pre-market engagement with interested parties to help shape and inform the development of the Council’s strategy for procuring enterprise and business growth services.

The scope of these services includes activity currently delivered across four thematic areas, including starting a business, social economy, growing a business and investing in Belfast (each described further below). Each thematic area may comprise of a range of projects or initiatives, each with their own area of focus and expertise to help individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses or investors across each of the themes:

1. STARTING A BUSINESS - Outreach and awareness raising activity targeting a wide variety of individuals or groups with ideas who want to start or grow a business or social enterprise. Through start a business activity we also target ambitious entrepreneurs who want to either start a new venture or grow the business they’ve been building for the last two years. A range of services and programmes provide support to small scale businesses , high-tech businesses , social enterprises , city centre businesses with specific needs and university undergraduates.

SUPPORT OFFERED - The Council would help would-be entrepreneurs go out on their own without having to go it alone by supporting them with specialist incentives and advice. The Council helps new businesses get started and get bigger, better, sooner by providing general and sector specific advice and support.

2. SOCIAL ECONOMY - Organisations or individuals who have aspirations to establish enterprises in the social economy sector. Through tailored support social enterprises and cooperatives can access advice and guidance to generate ideas, business plan, learn from peers, attend workshops and access finance.

SUPPORT OFFERED - The Council supports the creation, development, and sustainability of social enterprises.

3. GROWING A BUSINESS - Businesses that have been in existence for at least two years. They know what they’re doing, but they also know they need specific help with growth issues that they don’t have in-house skills or insight to manage.

SUPPORT OFFERED - The Council provides support to help businesses grow. The Council helps them to expand by plugging them into our professional networks. We encourage export-curious businesses to think outside the country.

4. INVESTING IN BELFAST - Organisations or individuals brought to the city by Invest Northern Ireland, or who are independently exploring the possibility of locating here.

Businesses looking to physically develop or expand their existing investment/premises.

SUPPORT OFFERED - The Council makes Belfast an easier and more attractive place to do business for companies who are based elsewhere. The Council adds value, extends a helping hand and offers valuable insight. The Council also opens doors for investors opening or expanding businesses.