Cardiff Council on behalf of Cardiff Capital Region has received an allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Funding, matched with wider CCR funds to deliver the SPF’s Supporting Local Business priority within the region.

CCR with Cardiff Council as the accountable body will deliver a Cluster Development & Growth Programme. The Cluster Development and Growth Programme (CDGP) aims to support CCR’s priority clusters of Fintech, MedTech, Creative Industries, Cybersecurity and Compound Semiconductor, alongside supporting wider Advanced Manufacturing and Net Zero capability. This includes academic, education and business partnerships, accelerators, and higher-level skills programmes to spur economic growth and

prosperity across the region.

There are four Lots within the programme:

Lot 1 Digital Skills

Lot 2 Net Zero and Advanced Manufacturing Skills

Lot 3 Academic Industry Partnership

Lot 4 Business Growth Programme

Cardiff Capital Region wish to procure a managing agent for each lot to plan, design and deliver the Lot.

CCR wish to procure a managing agent, to oversee the design, coordination, delivery design and deliver a programme of impactful digital skills interventions, which meet the needs of identified skills shortages, across the priority clusters, whilst tackling wider

social mobility challenges across the region, via:

A - Discovery phase.

Determining priority digital skills gaps and challenges via proactive engagement

and consultation with industry, representative forums, and relevant

stakeholders.

Identification of ubiquitous digital skills gaps that can support several clusters.

Mapping of existing digital skills provision to avoid duplication.

Engagement with public and third sector stakeholders to determine most

appropriate methods of supporting diversity and inclusion objectives.

Identification of delivery partners, across education, academia, the third sector

and technology providers.

Tenderers will note that CCR requires several pre-determined new-skilling

activities for approximately 40 participants, to be delivered upon contract

commencement and completed by December 2023.

B - Co-design a priority skills roadmap and programme of bespoke solutions, including

opportunities to support multiple clusters with ubiquitous skills activities and

formalise consortium of delivery partners, via a Build & Recruit phase.

C - Launch and manage the programme of skills interventions, via a Delivery phase.

Tenderers will note that CCR may require the delivery of several pre-determined

skills activities upon project commencement.

The digital skills interventions will seek to support at least 200 enterprises in the region,

via new skilling & upskilling activities for 400 participants, leading to the creation of 150

digitally focussed jobs created as a result of support.

CCR wish to procure a Managing agent, to oversee the design, coordination, and

delivery of a series of impactful skills interventions, which support CCR’s priority

clusters, inward investment & CCR’s wider investment programmes.

Interventions will include.

- Upskilling for existing enterprises to help meet their Net Zero and advanced

manufacturing skills requirements.

- New skilling activities to develop talent pipelines for in demand jobs, leading to

jobs created as a result of support.

The Managing agent will be required to:

A - Proactively engage and consult with CCR, industry and relevant stakeholders

to determine higher level Net Zero and Advanced Manufacturing skills gaps,

map existing skills provision to avoid duplication of provision and identify in

demand associated job opportunities, via a Discovery phase.

B - Identify a consortium of appropriate delivery partners, across education,

academia, and wider relevant providers.

C - Co-design with stakeholders, a skills roadmap and series of skills solutions, via

a Build and Recruit phase.

D - Launch and manage the delivery of skills interventions via a Delivery Phase.

The skills interventions will seek to support at least 200 enterprises in the region by

providing business advice, guidance, mentoring and training. This must involve some

form of direct interaction with members of the enterprises. The skills intervention will

also seek to deliver new skilling & upskilling of 250 participants and 100 jobs created

as a result of support.

CCR wish to procure a managing agent to tackle industry challenges in CCR priority

clusters - FinTech, Creative Industries, Compound Semiconductors, MedTech and

Cybersecurity, by working with academic centres of excellence across Higher

Education and/or Further Education , to transfer knowledge, technology, and

skills, through short, targeted interventions.

The programme will bring together industry and academia to identify innovative

solutions to support enterprise growth, particularly amongst micro and small and

medium-sized enterprises. Outcomes of the programme for enterprises are

likely to include improved quality and operations, increased sales, and access to new

markets, leading to increased profitability as a direct result of Research & Development

activity.

The managing agent will oversee the delivery and coordination of the programme,

bringing together a consortium of academic expertise, in a multi-disciplinary approach

to solving challenges, from multiple HE and/or FE partners, within the region.

The initiative can establish new partnerships and consolidate existing collaborations

between academia and industry partners, through knowledge exchange.

It is envisaged the delivery of the programme will comprise.

- Creating a robust academic consortium of Higher Education and Further

Education establishments, with expertise aligned to support industry challenges

from CCR’s priority clusters.

- Establishing 25 short-term collaborative projects by entering into a formal

academic – industry partnership, with enterprises, to solve specific challenges.

- It is also envisaged that industry-led, postgraduate research will be generated

as a by-product of the short-term collaborative projects, enabling postgraduate

students to work on live industry challenges, and apply their learning, as part of

their postgraduate qualification.

CCR wishes to procure a managing agent, to design, develop, and implement a growth

programme for twelve high-growth potential enterprises for inclusion in a single

cohort, multiple cohorts or tailored 1:1 mentoring/coaching.

The programme can be delivered virtually or in person and will provide peer-to-peer

learning, masterclasses led by expert business coaches, and customised support and

resources to support participant enterprises accelerate growth and achieve their full

potential.

The initiative will focus on high-growth potential enterprises in CCR’s priority clusters

and located in the region. The managing agent will be responsible for recruiting

enterprises that can demonstrate the drive and ability to scale and will firmly commit to

the programme. The managing agent will collect data demonstrating growth indicators

for a period of five years for all participant enterprises that successfully complete the

growth programme.