Framework Agreement for Business Support Consultancy Services

Financial Management: support is required to enable businesses to develop and refine financial management skills, such as an understanding of financial statements and cash-flow as well as the application of sales, pricing, costing, interest and borrowings, taxation, investment and performance measurements. Financial Readiness: business support will be required to allow interrogation of their forecasting methodologies and assessing their fitness for purpose in terms of their effectiveness in predicting future performance. Preparing for Investment: information and support to prepare businesses for investment as an attractive proposition for potential investors and loan funders. Alternative Finance: information and support around the main forms of alternative business funding for SMEs, including short to long-term loans/debt/equity, asset finance, invoice financing, advice around self-investment and exploring available grant assistance. Taxation: providing support to businesses across any taxation issues that they may have during their business cycle.

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Strategic Planning: this may involve support relating to challenging existing approaches, developing new strategies and performance measurement. Business Growth / Productivity: growth / productivity gains can be achieved by either boosting the top line or revenue of the business with greater product sales or service income, or by increasing the bottom line or profitability of the operation by minimising costs – beneficial to help businesses explore both options. Organisational Management: assisting with the organisational management activity that is used to set priorities, focus energy and resources, strengthen operations, ensure that employees and other stakeholders are working toward common goals, and establish agreement around intended outcomes/results. Business Development: analysing current client base, identifying a potential sales pipeline, qualifying lead opportunities, producing a value proposition and clearly demonstrating a USP for the business. Change Management: intervention to help a business move through the growth life-cycle, ensuring due consideration is made to the impact of change on the business, and its people, because of growth.

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Market Analysis capability – including market research and surveys. Developing Marketing Strategies (incorporating traditional offline areas of the marketing mix, such as advertising, print, PR) General Digital Marketing (including knowledge of websites, SEO, analytics and ecommerce and social media platforms Target market and customer development (including developing customer personas, user journeys etc) Branding (including working with clients to create a brief, business values, band positioning, mission statement and USPs; and conducting brand audits) Content creation (both online and offline materials, including copywriting, tone of voice, blogs, podcasts, image creation etc)

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Social Media principles and knowledge of all current tools and platforms Search Engine Optimisation Best Practice Developing Digital Marketing Strategies Cyber Security Principles Artificial Intelligence Tools & Tactics for Digital Marketing Google Analytics 4 and other data analytics tools Web Design & Development tools and Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress, WIX, Squarespace, Shopify) Ecommerce and off the shelf platforms and marketplaces (e.g., Ebay, Amazon and Etsy) Mobile web development (including mobile apps) Email marketing

Examples of topics that are offered under Information and Digital Technology are: Improvements in efficiency and productivity through Digital Capabilities, including automation and artificial intelligence IT systems and process advice Support to increase productivity with digital technology, including epos systems, cloud accountancy and other cloud-based software.

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Review Current Tender Library: reviewing existing tender documentation and suggest best practice amendments. Support on how to identify key future contract opportunities, ensuring Public Contracts Scotland profile is up to date, how to complete an SPD, deciding on what opportunities to bid/tender for and improving business visibility within the public sector. General Procurement Support: evaluate past tendering performance and providing feedback on improvements, interpreting tender feedback and incorporating this into future bids. Live Tenders: advice and support on how to complete live opportunities, SPDs and Quick Quotes, helping businesses decide if they should bid, registering on other procurement portals and producing best tender documents possible.

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: HR Policy: reviewing existing HR processes and policies, ensure they are fit for purpose and cover mandatory legal obligations. Employee Engagement: enable implementation of appraisals, how to broker and manage tough discussions, developing clear roles and responsibilities for all staff and development and of employee handbooks. Performance Management: improving individual employee performance and linking this to employee roles and responsibilities and contractual obligations, workforce relationship building and employee consultation projects.

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Family Business Support Governance & Structure: creating the correct structures and practices needed to achieve best practice in governance of a family business, how to view the business as a family and as a business, development of a shared purpose, defining employee and family roles. Succession Planning succession planning, conflict resolution, next generation career and skills development, developing family communications and planning an elegant exit. Succession Planning Support Existing Business Position: formulating exit strategies, preparing business for sale, business continuity and safe-guarding people and assets. Business Structure: provide support to help determine the assignment and coordination of roles, power and responsibilities within a business. Define how information flows between the different levels of management. Board Development: value and creation of a board, or recruitment of a non-executive director. Review composition and effectiveness at both an individual and group level. Business Continuity: how to deal with disruptions to supply chains, reputation, loss of premises or loss of technology. Risk Management: enable businesses to make well-informed decisions and to identify and protect the most critical aspects of their operations. Mitigating or reducing risks to an acceptable level can create more agile businesses.

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the provision of the following: Ad-hoc Energy Efficiency Audit Reporting services EPC Rating services

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Carbon Auditing/Accounting Net Zero Route Mapping Carbon Reduction Strategies

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Skills Mapping of Business/Employees: reviewing existing skills and talent within a business, leadership development, review of business culture, internal project management, capacity building, people development and productivity improvements. Leadership and Management: as the business grows, so does the need for strong leadership and guidance. Support to equip owners and entrepreneurs with the skills required to develop and achieve key business aspirations. Productivity: plans and processes to improve productivity, identifying CIPD opportunities, implementing new ideas and structures.

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Support and advice for North Ayrshire businesses with a desire to achieve ISO/Quality Management accreditation. This will involve supporting businesses/organisations with the development, documentation and implementation of quality management systems where needed, prior to application for ISO/Quality Management accreditation.

Services for this Lot should include, but not be limited to, the following: Support businesses to access overseas markets, supporting the opportunity to reach a wider customer base and increase sales. Support for Exporting, including documentation. Market Analysis, Strategy and Development.