CARDIFF CAPITAL REGION CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH PROGRAMME

Description

Cardiff Council on behalf of Cardiff Capital Region has received an allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Funding, matched with wider CCR funds to deliver the SPF’s Supporting Local Business priority within the region. CCR with Cardiff Council as the accountable body will deliver a Cluster Development & Growth Programme. The Cluster Development and Growth Programme (CDGP) aims to support CCR’s priority clusters of Fintech, MedTech, Creative Industries, Cybersecurity and Compound Semiconductor, alongside supporting wider Advanced Manufacturing and Net Zero capability. This includes academic, education and business partnerships, accelerators, and higher-level skills programmes to spur economic growth and prosperity across the region. There are four Lots within the programme: Lot 1 Digital Skills Lot 2 Net Zero and Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lot 3 Academic Industry Partnership Lot 4 Business Growth Programme Cardiff Capital Region wish to procure a managing agent for each lot to plan, design and deliver the Lot. Lot 1: Digital Skills CCR wish to procure a managing agent, to oversee the design, coordination, delivery design and deliver a programme of impactful digital skills interventions, which meet the needs of identified skills shortages, across the priority clusters, whilst tackling wider social mobility challenges across the region, via: A - Discovery phase. Determining priority digital skills gaps and challenges via proactive engagement and consultation with industry, representative forums, and relevant stakeholders. Identification of ubiquitous digital skills gaps that can support several clusters. Mapping of existing digital skills provision to avoid duplication. Engagement with public and third sector stakeholders to determine most appropriate methods of supporting diversity and inclusion objectives. Identification of delivery partners, across education, academia, the third sector and technology providers. Tenderers will note that CCR requires several pre-determined new-skilling activities for approximately 40 participants, to be delivered upon contract commencement and completed by December 2023. B - Co-design a priority skills roadmap and programme of bespoke solutions, including opportunities to support multiple clusters with ubiquitous skills activities and formalise consortium of delivery partners, via a Build & Recruit phase. C - Launch and manage the programme of skills interventions, via a Delivery phase. Tenderers will note that CCR may require the delivery of several pre-determined skills activities upon project commencement. The digital skills interventions will seek to support at least 200 enterprises in the region, via new skilling & upskilling activities for 400 participants, leading to the creation of 150 digitally focussed jobs created as a result of support. Lot 2: Net Zero & Advanced Manufacturing Skills CCR wish to procure a Managing agent, to oversee the design, coordination, and delivery of a series of impactful skills interventions, which support CCR’s priority clusters, inward investment & CCR’s wider investment programmes. Interventions will include. - Upskilling for existing enterprises to help meet their Net Zero and advanced manufacturing skills requirements. - New skilling activities to develop talent pipelines for in demand jobs, leading to jobs created as a result of support. The Managing agent will be required to: A - Proactively engage and consult with CCR, industry and relevant stakeholders to determine higher level Net Zero and Advanced Manufacturing skills gaps, map existing skills provision to avoid duplication of provision and identify in demand associated job opportunities, via a Discovery phase. B - Identify a consortium of appropriate delivery partners, across education, academia, and wider relevant providers. C - Co-design with stakeholders, a skills roadmap and series of skills solutions, via a Build and Recruit phase. D - Launch and manage the delivery of skills interventions via a Delivery Phase. The skills interventions will seek to support at least 200 enterprises in the region by providing business advice, guidance, mentoring and training. This must involve some form of direct interaction with members of the enterprises. The skills intervention will also seek to deliver new skilling & upskilling of 250 participants and 100 jobs created as a result of support. Lot 3: Academic-Industry Partnerships CCR wish to procure a managing agent to tackle industry challenges in CCR priority clusters - FinTech, Creative Industries, Compound Semiconductors, MedTech and Cybersecurity, by working with academic centres of excellence across Higher Education and/or Further Education , to transfer knowledge, technology, and skills, through short, targeted interventions. The programme will bring together industry and academia to identify innovative solutions to support enterprise growth, particularly amongst micro and small and medium-sized enterprises. Outcomes of the programme for enterprises are likely to include improved quality and operations, increased sales, and access to new markets, leading to increased profitability as a direct result of Research & Development activity. The managing agent will oversee the delivery and coordination of the programme, bringing together a consortium of academic expertise, in a multi-disciplinary approach to solving challenges, from multiple HE and/or FE partners, within the region. The initiative can establish new partnerships and consolidate existing collaborations between academia and industry partners, through knowledge exchange. It is envisaged the delivery of the programme will comprise. - Creating a robust academic consortium of Higher Education and Further Education establishments, with expertise aligned to support industry challenges from CCR’s priority clusters. - Establishing 25 short-term collaborative projects by entering into a formal academic – industry partnership, with enterprises, to solve specific challenges. - It is also envisaged that industry-led, postgraduate research will be generated as a by-product of the short-term collaborative projects, enabling postgraduate students to work on live industry challenges, and apply their learning, as part of their postgraduate qualification. Lot 4: Business Growth Programme CCR wishes to procure a managing agent, to design, develop, and implement a growth programme for twelve high-growth potential enterprises for inclusion in a single cohort, multiple cohorts or tailored 1:1 mentoring/coaching. The programme can be delivered virtually or in person and will provide peer-to-peer learning, masterclasses led by expert business coaches, and customised support and resources to support participant enterprises accelerate growth and achieve their full potential. The initiative will focus on high-growth potential enterprises in CCR’s priority clusters and located in the region. The managing agent will be responsible for recruiting enterprises that can demonstrate the drive and ability to scale and will firmly commit to the programme. The managing agent will collect data demonstrating growth indicators for a period of five years for all participant enterprises that successfully complete the growth programme.