1 External Evaluation Tender Brief 1. Project Background The Inspiring Enterprise and Growth Project is funded under Investment Priority 3a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme Promoting entrepreneurship, in particular by facilitating economic exploitation of new ideas and fostering the creation of new firms, including through incubators. The project aims to equip 350 potential entrepreneurs and 50 fledgling small and medium enterprises or social enterprises (up to 3.5 years in existence) in London with skills and competences to become more enterprising, start up new businesses/social enterprises and grow to ensure their sustainability. The project s key objectives are: To 350 potential entrepreneurs through a mix of diagnostic, prestart incubation experience; a programme of concept to realisation workshops and other specialist tailored to each individual entrepreneur s ambitions and needs, to become enterprise ready (creating 140 new enterprises). To 80 fledgling SMEs/social enterprises through business reviews; strategic business planning; and SMART actions and targets; and other tailored specialist directing the business to a higher sustainable growth. To 150 enterprises (including 70 new enterprises registered in less than a year) with non-financial to create 60 FTE new jobs and 6 introducing new products to firm. 2. Project Description 2.1. The project runs from 1 st October 2016 until 31 st September 2019 (however, project activities end in June 2019) with a total budget of 2,715,000 including match funding 2.2. Project activities are as follows: The project will have the following key delivery activities: 1. Outreach recruitment and introduction to IEG This activity will begin from January 2017
Potential entrepreneurs and SMEs/social enterprises will be recruited on a rolling basis via the various methods described 2. Diagnostic assessment and action planning All potential entrepreneurs and SMEs/social enterprises on joining the project will undergo a thorough diagnostic assessment, resulting in an action plan for each of them 3. Specialist Each potential entrepreneur will receive a minimum of 12 hours assistance and each SME/social enterprise will receive a minimum of 12 hours specialist business related to their individual needs This will include business testing//business ideas viability; business to business matching and networking; business counselling/coaching; access to other funding and industry networks and workshops. 4. Exit and aftercare This will Include signposting, referrals to other business agencies and for any other aftercare. 2.3. Performance Indicators: Code Description Target Measure P11 C1 C4 C5 C8 C28 Number of potential entrepreneurs assisted to be enterprise ready Number of enterprises (SMEs or social enterprises) receiving Number of enterprises (SMEs or social enterprises) receiving non-financial Number of new enterprises (SMEs or social enterprises) registered or trading in less than a year receiving Employment increase in ed enterprises Number of enterprises ed to introduce new products to market 350 Number of potential entrepreneurs (individuals) completing at least 12 hours of 150 Number of enterprises completing at least 12 hours of 150 Number of enterprises completing more than 12 hours of 70 Number of new enterprises completing at least 12 hours of 60 FTE Job created as result of activity of the project 6 This is a subset of C1 The enterprise should selfdeclare that the product/service
Code Description Target Measure is new to the market and the date product was launched & further documentation such as marketing information or literature 3. Background and Rationale to the Evaluation 3.1. Purpose External evaluation of the project is required to enable LTEN and its partners to assess the impact of its activities on potential entrepreneurs and SMEs and or social enterprises ed. In addition, it will be used to learn what works well, which can be used to further develop project activities and report to the GLA and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). 3.2. Key audiences The audiences encompass the DCLG, GLA, potential entrepreneurs, SMEs and social enterprises. It is recognised that the diversity of audience will present challenges for the evaluation and innovation will be necessary. 4. Key Aims of the Evaluation Project The specific aims of this evaluation are as follows: Context and market failure assessment to continually verify that the challenges and policies the project seeks to address are unchanged or, to detect changes and incorporate these into the developing project. Rationale underpinning the project plan and delivery activities. Assessment of validity will ensure that activities remain relevant throughout the project Inputs assessment of value for money and the quality of activities delivered - an essential element of project management to ensure the project achieves high standard outputs and outcomes Outputs these will be measured continually to ensure the project is on track Outcomes these are as stated in the logic model. However, potential entrepreneurs and enterprise owners must understand the need to provide specified information at beginning and the end to measure outcomes and this should be covered in the initial evaluation workshop
Impacts, intended and unintended this will be monitored carefully and linked to the changes the project aims to bring about. These changes should be specified and discussed in the initial evaluation workshop. Also, we will monitor and evaluate: achievements against objectives of the operational programme, and needs and expectations of the participants performance on cross cutting themes (equal opportunities and sustainable development) aspects of service delivery which are working well and lessons learnt. 5. Key Research Questions and Methodology We would like the evaluation to answer questions as stated in the ERDF Summative Assessment Report template attached; and develop a research methodology that will deliver the insights. Bidders will be expected to identify the economic analytical tools/statistical methods that are proposed to meet the specification output requirements outlined throughout this document. 6. Potential Data Sources Sources of data for the evaluation include: Full Application Form Project Engagement Visit report/project change request form Project monitoring documents Minutes of the Project Steering Group meetings Quarterly project claims Quarterly progress reports 7. Timescales for the Evaluation The key milestones below provide a framework that the successful bidder will be expected to follow to deliver the evaluation report. Bidders should also complete the pricing schedule below. Key project milestones Project deadline Invitation to tender 8 November 2017 Deadline for receipt of tenders 17 November 2017
Key project milestones Project deadline Shortlist 20 November 2017 Decision on successful bidder 20 November 2017 Contract awarded 27 November 2017 Inception Meeting TBC Work commences January 2018 Progress Meeting 1 June/July 2018 Interim Report submission September 2018 Progress Meeting 2 March/April 2019 Draft Final Report submission to EPMU August 2019 Progress Meeting 3 September 2019 Final Report submission to GLA September 2019 8. Specific Requirements Bidders will be required to submit detailed proposals demonstrating: Understanding of the brief and its context; Proposed research and evaluation methodology; Detailed work plan; Evidence of previous relevant evaluation experience; Evidence of individual study team members qualifications, skills and experience; individual roles and responsibilities within the study team and their input at each stage of the work;
9. Reporting The evaluation will be managed by LTEN and the work will be coordinated through the project steering group. The project steering group will oversee the evaluation with the purpose of facilitating the evaluation and validating findings as they emerge. The project steering group will meet to discuss the evaluation at key stages (linked to the delivery of key outputs) to review progress as set out in the evaluation timetable and agreed in the work programme. We expect organisations to submit their proposals with costings of the work they will carry out including day rates, VAT if applicable and the production of the report(s). LTEN will negotiate the final budget to be allocated to this work with the external evaluator. 10. Ownership of the Research Ownership of the research will rest with LTEN as will any data produced as a result of the evaluation. The project steering group will decide on any publication of the evaluation report. 11. Data Protection and Ethics It is the responsibility of the successful bidder to ensure that the proposed methodology does not contravene the provisions of the Data Protection Acts in member states. Contractors will also be expected to abide by appropriate professional guidelines. 12. Criteria for the selection of tenders. Each bid will be judged against: Value for money Understanding of the research issues A clear grasp of the wider policy context of the work Appropriate research experience in evaluation. Demonstrated ability to meet the timescale. 13. Submittal of Tenders Please email your proposal clearly marked as Tender for Evaluation of the ERDF Inspiring Enterprise and Growth Project to Cynthia Hyman (Cynthia@lten.org.uk). They must arrive no later than 5pm 17 th November 2017.