INVESTMENT OF LOCAL GROWTH FUND SKILLS FUNDING IN SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT TO WIDEN ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGIES AND DIGITAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

1. Title: INVESTMENT OF LOCAL GROWTH FUND SKILLS FUNDING IN SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT TO WIDEN ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGIES AND DIGITAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT2. Awarding Authority: Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Partnership (LEP), GB Email: pat.jackson@871candwep.co.uk / sarah.williams@871candwep.co.uk. Web: (Pat Jackson)3. Contract type: Supply contract4. Description: The Awarding Authority is offering to invest in specialist equipment to support wider access by local businesses, local schools and colleges and local communities to digital and other new technologies including the technology and expertise in the 13 Local Growth Fund investments that have already been made, and has a budget of £125k. We want to invest in a single proposal that would have an impact across the whole of Cheshire and Warrington. The investment could include:Specialist equipment to support employers being able to demonstrate – from their business premises – the use and application of new technologies in their businesses, and engage in online dialogues with groups of students, local businesses and communities. The aim would be to inspire more young people and small businesses in the use of the new technologies and promote associated career opportunities, by facilitating more interactions between businesses and young people and from business to business.Specialist equipment to enable wider access and participation in skills development and training programmes across Cheshire and Warrington. This could include the ability to deliver and record live broadcasts, including interactive question and answer sessions. For example, specialist equipment to allow a teacher or business person to increase their audience from 15 people in the classroom to hundreds of people online.Specialist equipment to be accessible in local areas, for example, in libraries, community centres and ‘pop-up cafes’, to widen access and participation in a range of geographical locations across Cheshire and Warrington. The equipment could be mobile and would enable remote access from a range of different locations across Cheshire and Warrington. Participants would be able to use the locally based equipment to learn new skills and actively engage in activities that are being broadcast (including from the Local Growth Fund investments). This investment would build on the investments already made in Warrington through Livewire and at the Northwich and Winsford libraries by Warrington and Vale Royal College.5. CPV Code(s): 32430000, 32400000, 32580000, 32581000, 72222300, 72300000, 72000000, 727000006. NUTS code(s): UKD, UKD6, UKD617. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: Cheshire and Warrington.8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: Budget of £125k10. The deadline for submission is 15.5.2020 (17:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information and instructions in the above contract notice please visit website: 12. Other information: Please visit the website above for documentationLEP appraisal of bids to be completed Approximately 2 weeks after deadlines for each invitation to bidPanel convened to review and prioritise bids Week commencing 25 MayDecisions of Employers’ Skills and Education Board and Performance and Investment Committee : 10 June 2020 – Panel with approvals inprincipal announced to bidders within a few days of meetingsRatification by the Performance and Investment Committee : 17 June 2020Further information to be provided if necessary : As neededContract investments July 2020Deadline for Local Growth Fund to be spent March 2021# funding opportunity