Partners sought for new business support service

Organisations are being invited to help deliver a new business support service aimed at making it easier for Tees Valley firms to access specialist expertise and growth advice.

Business Tees Valley has launched a procurement process to appoint delivery partners across seven areas, covering the foundational economy, advanced manufacturing and modern industrial technologies, digital and tech, creative and cultural industries, games, female founders and specialist expertise.

Successful bidders will work alongside Business Tees Valley and other organisations to help companies overcome challenges, identify opportunities and achieve sustainable growth.

Officials say the new approach aims to create a more connected business support network, bringing specialist providers together under a common operating model, customer journey and referral process.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: “We know our businesses want an easier system to navigate when accessing support.

“We want our own local companies to come with us and make sure the new Business Tees Valley system does what it says on the tin.

“Easier applications, easier to navigate and not applying over and over again for separate packages of support.”

Both individual providers and consortia are being encouraged to bid, with the framework designed to allow Business Tees Valley to draw on different expertise according to the needs and ambitions of individual companies.

A Supplier Noticeboard has also been launched to help potential delivery partners connect and explore opportunities to collaborate before submitting bids.

The procurement forms part of wider plans to simplify the region’s business support landscape and provide firms with a more seamless route to the advice and specialist services they need.

Sarah Walker, director of business solutions at the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), added: “This is a fundamentally new approach to business support in Tees Valley that puts businesses at the centre to make it easier to access the help they need.

“Too often, businesses find the support landscape difficult to navigate.

“We want Business Tees Valley to create a more connected ecosystem to bring organisations together, remove barriers and help firms access the right expertise at the right time.

“This is an opportunity to be part of a transformational programme that will help businesses start, strengthen and scale, while supporting economic growth and job creation across Tees Valley.”

Middlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke, TVCA cabinet member for finance, organisational improvement and business growth, added: “We want our businesses to spend less time searching and applying for support and more time growing.

“Business Tees Valley will make it easier for firms to access the expertise and guidance they need.

“We want to ensure businesses across our region receive the right support at the right time.”

Organisations interested in becoming delivery partners can find full details of the opportunities available through the procurement portal here.

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