Ambitious Essex Enhanced Growth Hub
Estimated value
—
Awarded value
£1.1m
Suppliers
1
Lots
1
Published
17 Feb 2026
Description
Essex County Council (ECC) are seeking to award contract of the Enhanced Growth Hub with Additional Business Support on 1st April 2026. The service, working closely with the Government funded Growth Hub, will help provide the front door for businesses seeking advice and support in the County, enabling them to have the knowledge necessary to achieve growth and prosperity as well as access to business finance. The area covered by the service will be the Ceremonial County of Essex, including Southend and Thurrock Unitary Authority areas.
Scope
- Reference
- PL0117
- Commercial tool
- Standalone contract
- Contract dates
- 31 Mar 2026 to 31 Mar 2029
- CPV classifications
- 6600000079000000
- Contract locations
- East of England, United Kingdom
- Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Award criteria
Criteria the buyer will use to evaluate bids.
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | — | price | 40.00% |
| Quality | — | quality | 45.00% |
| Social Value | — | quality | 10.00% |
| Climate | — | quality | 5.00% |
Submission & procedure
- Procedure
- Open procedure
Award details
Awarded supplier(s), contract period and value as published in the award notice.
Awarded value
£1.1m
Award date
17 Feb 2026
Contract start
31 Mar 2026
Contract end
31 Mar 2029
Awarded suppliers· 1 supplier
Awarded 17 Feb 2026 · Contract period 31 Mar 2026 — 31 Mar 2029
Other contracts from Essex County Council
Full notice and award history for this contracting authority is on the buyer profile.
Other contracts awarded to SMARTER SOCIETY LIMITED· 10
Cross-buyer view of this supplier's public-sector wins.
| Title | Type | Value | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recover, Pivot and Scale | contract | — | 07 May 2026 |
| Ambitious Essex Enhanced Growth Hub | contract | — | 05 Mar 2026 |
| SCC - High Street Growth and Innovation | contract | — | 04 Feb 2026 |
| AISI Evaluation Sourcing Fund Administration | contract | £2.3m | 09 Oct 2025 |
| CN250241 Kent and Medway Growth Hub | contract | — | 05 Aug 2025 |
| CN250241 Kent and Medway Growth Hub | contract | — | 11 Jul 2025 |
| NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE RETAIL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME 2025/26 | contract | — | 09 Jun 2025 |
| Growth Hub 2025 | contract | — | 06 May 2025 |
| Kent & Medway Business Support Workshops | contract | £60k | 16 Jan 2025 |
| Provision of Grant Management Services for the CWGLEF Activate Grants Programme | contract | £70k | 27 Nov 2024 |