GC Business Growth Hub is seeking to procure a panel of providers who will deliver the service on an individual cohort basis, with potential providers asked to specify the total number of cohorts they wish to deliver – or specify their lower and upper number (provide a band) to provide us with more flexible procurement and deployment options. An initial group of 16 pilot cohorts will be delivered, with a view to potentially expanding this number if additional funding is available during the autumn and if further extended.

Peer Networks is a national initiative that will be delivered locally through the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) network and local Growth Hubs. The Business Hub will be delivering this service in Greater Manchester.

The programme invites leaders and senior managers from the SME business community who meet the eligibility criteria below to participate in a local peer network that will meet regularly over several months.

Service Specification

Cohort size: Circa 11 owners/managers

Number of sessions: 9 virtual sessions by video conference of two hours each per cohort, led by a trained facilitator, or alternatively, 6 sessions of three hours each

Individual support: Each participant will also receive 1 hr of dedicated one to one engagement with the facilitator to determine what additional support they need.

Additional in-depth support will be provided by referral to the Business Growth Hub, for further support i.e. through account management/coaching/mentoring or specialist advice. Participants will then receive a minimum of 3 ½ hours of individual support per participant..

Frequency of sessions: Fortnightly typically but can be varied, providing cohorts finish no later than the end of March 21.

Topic selection: participants will determine what subjects will be discussed, but we anticipate these may include:

Finance; HR; sales and marketing; adjusting to social distancing; business model innovation; change management; embedding formal management processes and systems; digital (incl adoption and implementation of technology, cyber security); use of data to drive value in the business; EU transition; Net zero.

The first wave of Cohorts will need to be completed by the end of March 2021

The value of activity under this framework up to 31 March 2021 is expected to be in the region of GBP 300 000. Including any extension periods, the total framework will not exceed a maximum of GBP 1 200 000 (excluding VAT).

Each complete cohort of support has been budgeted to cost between GBP 7 000 and GBP 10 000 (excluding VAT) and a maximum of 2 Cohorts will be award to a supplier each Cohort wave.