A Prior Information Notice was issued to the market in 2018 to determine the market for upcoming works. The Main Works procurement commenced in November 2019 under the Restricted Procedure but was halted after stage one due to Covid. The procurement recommenced in October 2020 as a Competitive Procedure with Negotiation, deemed the most appropriate route to market given the continuation of the ongoing pandemic and the unprecedented times that the market was facing. The contract was awarded in March 2021 with a value of £16,042,852.
Renfrewshire Council’s community benefit approach includes a dedicated support function. The Council’s cross-functional Community Benefit Forum focuses on the delivery of the community benefits that are derived from contracts. The group is made up of colleagues with expertise in Education, Employability, Economic Development, Business Development, and representation from Engage Renfrewshire (Renfrewshire’s Third Sector interface) and Developing the Young Workforce West. The forum ensures a wider group of people are involved in the delivery of contracts to maximise the impact.
The Forum members perform a variety of functions including giving bidders support on appropriate community benefit offers, supporting mobilisation and highlighting projects and programmes that could align with benefit delivery (work experience schedules, community project needs, etc), providing channels of communication between suppliers and suitable beneficiaries of benefits, and supporting monitoring and management of delivery.
Desk-based market research, including a SWOT and PESTLEE analysis, was included in the contract strategy.
Extensive engagement with the following stakeholders also took place; Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, the general public (including the surrounding residents and shopkeepers), existing Town Hall user groups, the Free Church, Historic Environment Scotland and the Theatre Trust.
The analysis and engagement carried out identified that there was the opportunity to gain further local benefits from such a significant project already focused on regeneration and economic growth by including relevant community benefit requirements. Given the significance of the project the decision was made to mandate a number of employment benefits in addition to inclusion of the relevant evaluated contractual community benefits offered by bidders.
The Community Benefit requirements for the contract were as follows:
|
Outcomes/Activity |
Definition |
Evidence Required |
|---|---|---|
|
Job for an unemployed individual from a Priority Group |
An additional job created for a minimum of 26 weeks for at least 30 hours per week. In certain circumstances fewer hours may be acceptable depending upon the needs of the individual |
Individual is from a priority group Signed contract of employment Evidence of continued employment e.g. pay record |
|
Job for a young person (age 16-24) – from the Councils most deprived local datazones (SIMD 1 and 2) |
An additional job created for a minimum of 26 weeks for at least 30 hours per week. In certain circumstances fewer hours may be acceptable depending upon the needs of the individual |
Individual is aged 16-24 and from the councils most deprived local datazones (SIMD 1 and 2) Signed contract of employment Evidence of continued employment e.g. pay record |
Failure to confirm compliance with this aspect will be deemed non-compliance with the projects statement of requirements. Invest in Renfrewshire (IIR) can provide assistance with targeted recruitment and learning. This support includes providing a full vacancy management service or work with you on your preferred candidate such as school leaver, jobseeker or graduate. Financial assistance may be provided with recruitment activity this needs to be relevant and appropriate.”
The successful supplier committed to delivery of the agreed benefits proposing: 3 job opportunities, 6 modern apprenticeships, 1 graduate job, 10 work experience placements, 4 business advice/support opportunities, 2 supply chain opportunities for local businesses, 2 events to promote supply chain opportunities, 6 S/NVQs, 6 industry awareness events, 2 industry skills transfer sessions, 1 financial support for a community project, and 1 non-financial support for a community projects.
The supplier created a comprehensive delivery plan in collaboration with their supply chain and the Council’s Community Benefit Forum. Forum meetings enable a channel to give members updates on community benefits and highlight opportunities for input from internal Council colleagues for delivery of benefits. It was decided that through successful collaboration between the supplier and the Council it would be possible to maximise opportunities in relation to community benefits beyond the initial offer.
In collaboration with the Council’s business development team, the supplier held a number of “Meet the Buyer” supply chain events to maximise awareness of supply chain opportunities with local businesses. The supplier also engaged with the Council’s employability team and provided a range of support to local people, such as CV advice; assistance of job applications; interview preparation; and mock interviews.
As well as engagement with the Community Benefit Forum the supplier also worked in partnership with:
These relationships were facilitated through connections made by the Community Benefit Forum or through suppliers own contacts.
Monthly reports on progress were provided by the supplier as well as regular attendance at Renfrewshire Council’s Community Benefit Forum. Keeping the link between the Forum and the supplier open allowed for maximum delivery of tailored benefits to suit the local community.
