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Tenderpatch

Business Support North East Framework

North East Combined Authority

Open Closes in 25 days

Key facts

Closing date
Friday 13 November 2026, 17:00 (UK time) Closes in 25 days
Buyer's estimated value
£23,000,000 (incl. VAT) The buyer's own estimate, not income to you. For a framework this usually covers the whole agreement, not a single contract.
Contract period
1 Jan 2027 to 31 Mar 2029
Procedure
Open procedure
Notice type
Tender notice (UK4)
Suitable for SMEs (per buyer)
Yes
Arrangement
Framework agreement

Decision brief

Taken from the buyer's published notice (shown as written, shortened where long). Tenderpatch has not added to or interpreted it. Always read the official documents before bidding.

How bids will be scored

Lot 1

  • Quality 100%

Lot 2

  • Quality 100%

Lot 3

  • Quality 100%

Lot 4

  • Quality 100%

Lot 5

  • Quality 100%
Conditions of participation (what you must show)
None published in the notice. They may be in the tender documents.
Contract length and extensions
1 Jan 2027 to 31 Mar 2029. Extensions: 3x 12 month increments
How to submit
Through www.open-uk.org ↗ (the buyer's own portal). Electronic submission: allowed.
Tender documents

OPEN-PR-02102026122317339 ↗ (www.open-uk.org)

New to public tenders? Plain-English guide to this page
Framework
An agreement that sets terms for work the buyer may order later, often from several suppliers. The value shown usually covers the whole agreement, not one job.
Open for bids / closing date
You must submit by the closing date and time, normally through the buyer's own online portal. Late bids are normally refused.
Clarification questions
A deadline for asking the buyer questions about the tender. It is earlier than the closing date.
Conditions of participation
What the buyer asks suppliers to show before they can be considered, such as experience, insurance or accreditations.
Bids are scored on
How the buyer will compare bids, usually a split between price and quality. A 60/40 split in favour of quality means the cheapest bid will not necessarily win.
Lots
A tender can be split into parts. You can often bid for only the lots that suit you.
Area (ITL)
The buyer names an official statistical area for where the work is, not a street address. Check the tender documents for the actual sites.
UK4 and other notice codes
Official codes for the type of notice. A "tender notice" means bids are being invited.

General explanations written by Tenderpatch, not part of this notice.

Description

Business North East is a new region-wide approach to business support developed by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA) in partnership with the seven constituent local authorities. It will provide a simplified, coordinated and accessible business support system for entrepreneurs and businesses across the North East, supporting business The model will include a regional hub, use local authority network to maintaining strong relationships with businesses. The wider Business North East programme is expected to operate through five integrated areas of activity across the business lifecycle: Inspire - increase entrepreneurial awareness and aspiration, particularly amongst younger people and underrepresented groups. Explore - improve enterprise readiness and strengthen the quality of business propositions entering the support system. Start - increase business creation and improve business survival prospects through tailored support and business development assistance. Succeed - improve productivity, innovation, technology adoption and business resilience amongst established businesses. Grow - support ambitious businesses to scale, create jobs, access finance and enter new markets. The North East MSA intends to establish a framework to provide a flexible route through which a range of specialist business support, enterprise and related services may be commissioned in support of Business North East and wider regional economic priorities. It is anticipated that the framework will encompass a broad range of services, across five separate Lots: 1. Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Business Start-up 2. Business Growth, Productivity and Specialist Support 3. High Growth, Scale-up and Investment 4. Sector, Cluster and Supply Chain Development 5. Business Engagement, Training and Programme Support These areas reflect the anticipated breadth of Business North East, which is intended to respond to business needs including access to finance, productivity, workforce development, innovation, digital adoption, mentoring and growth support. The Framework is intended to enable the North East MSA and constituent local authorities to identify suitably qualified suppliers with the capability and experience to deliver services within one or more of these areas. The approach is intended to accommodate a diverse supplier market, including organisations capable of delivering broad business support programmes alongside specialist providers with expertise in particular sectors, business needs or forms of intervention. It will also support the development of new and emerging provision as business needs, economic conditions and regional priorities evolve. Please see the Market Engagement event recording below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPiuaxY_5JE

Lots (5)

  1. Lot 1: Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Business Start-up Support

    Value: £8,000,000 (incl. VAT)

    The North East MSA is seeking proposals for the design, mobilisation and delivery of an integrated programme to provide a coordinated pathway supporting individuals from the earliest stages of considering self-employment or entrepreneurship through to business start-up, early trading and progression into wider business support provision as part of the Business North East offer. The service is inte...

  2. Lot 2: Business Growth, Productivity and Specialist Business Support

    Value: £6,000,000 (incl. VAT)

    The North East MSA is seeking proposals for the design, mobilisation and delivery of a Succeed in Business: Access to Expert Specialists programme as part of the Business North East offer. The programme would provide established businesses with access to specialist expertise, practical support and targeted interventions designed to address barriers to survival, resilience, growth, productivity and...

  3. Lot 3: High Growth, Scale-up and Investment Support

    Value: £3,000,000 (incl. VAT)

    This Lot covers the provision of intensive and targeted support for businesses with the ambition and potential to achieve significant growth, scale their operations, access investment or expand into new markets. Services commissioned under this Lot may include high-growth diagnostics; strategic growth planning; scale-up and accelerator programmes; leadership and management development for growth;...

  4. Lot 4: Sector, Cluster, Supply Chain and Market Development

    Value: £2,000,000 (incl. VAT)

    This Lot covers the provision of services that strengthen sectors, clusters, supply chains and wider business ecosystems, including activity designed to develop collective capability, stimulate collaboration and enable businesses to respond to existing and emerging market opportunities. Services commissioned under this Lot may include sector and cluster development; cluster management and capabili...

  5. Lot 5: Business Engagement, Development and Programme Delivery Services

    Value: £4,000,000 (incl. VAT)

    This Lot covers a broad range of enabling, engagement and delivery services required to support the effective development and implementation of business and economic development programmes and interventions. Services commissioned under this Lot may include business engagement and outreach; programme activation and participant recruitment; local or place-based engagement; business events, networkin...