York St John University: Media, Content and Business Engagement Services

Contracting authority

Contracting authority:

York St John University

Public Procurement Organisation Number:

PGRG-9322-VXQG

Address:

Lord Mayors Walk
York
YO31 7EX
UK

Contact name:

Paul Revell

Email:

procurement@yorksj.ac.uk

Telephone:

01904 876611

Website:

www.yorksj.ac.uk

Organisation type:

REGIONAL_AUTHORITY

Devolved regulations that apply:

None

Procedure

Procedure type:

Below threshold - open competition

Dynamic market:

Not provided

Tenders received:

0

Tenders assessed:

0

Tenders from SMEs:

0

Tenders from VCSEs:

0

Special regime:

None

Scope

Title:

Media, Content and Business Engagement Services

Reference number:

TEN043

Main category:

SERVICES

Description:

The University's Business School is seeking external organisations to support media visibility, audience engagement, business community outreach and stakeholder engagement activities. These services include content and editorial opportunities, audience development, business networking, economic insight initiatives, events and promotional activities.

The University is considering a procurement approach comprising two service lots:

Lot 1 - Media, Content and Audience Reach
Lot 2 - Business Engagement, Events and Economic Insight

This pre-market engagement exercise is intended to inform the development of the full procurement and ensure that the Invitation to Tender (ITT) reflects current best practice, innovation and market capability.

Total value £130,000 (Estimated)

Contract dates (January 2027 – December 2030)

Duration: Up to 4 years (initial term plus extensions)

Anticipated start: Q1 2027 (indicative)

Engagement deadline TBC (Q4 2026)

Engagement process description

The University's objective is to establish a proportionate and effective approach to procuring services that strengthen its profile, reputation and engagement with key audiences.

This includes strengthening the University's ability to:

- Increase visibility and awareness amongst local, regional and sector audiences.
- Promote University expertise, research, teaching and impact.
- Engage employers, businesses, civic partners and external stakeholders.
- Support knowledge exchange and regional economic engagement.
- Extend reach through relevant media, content and audience channels.
- Deliver effective business-facing events and engagement programmes.
- Demonstrate measurable value and impact from external communications activity.

The University is seeking market insight to inform how this requirement can best be delivered, including approaches, methodologies and innovations that are aligned to the Higher Education sector.

Indicative scope of requirement

While requirements continue to be refined, the University anticipates that appointed supplier(s) may support the following activities.

Lot 1 - Media, Content and Audience Reach

Possible services may include:

- Editorial and content opportunities.
- Sponsored content and feature articles.
- Thought-leadership content.
- Expert commentary placement.
- Audience development and distribution.
- Digital and print promotion.
- Newsletter and online publication opportunities.
- Multi-channel awareness campaigns.
- Stakeholder communications support.
- Campaign measurement and performance reporting.

The University welcomes views on how such services are commonly structured, measured and contracted within comparable organisations.

Lot 2 - Business Engagement, Events and Economic Insight

Possible services may include:

- Business networking events.
- Employer engagement activities.
- Roundtable discussions and stakeholder forums.
- Conferences and thought-leadership events.
- Business rankings and recognition programmes.
- Economic insight reports and publications.
- Regional business engagement initiatives.
- Event promotion and attendance generation.
- Programme sponsorship opportunities.
- Reporting and impact evaluation.

The University welcomes feedback on innovative approaches to business engagement and the most effective delivery models for higher education institutions.

Purpose of this engagement

This pre-market engagement exercise is designed to:

- Test the University's current assumptions about delivery approach and scope.
- Understand what represents standard market practice for media, content and business engagement services.
- Understand whether the proposed two-lot structure is appropriate and attractive to suppliers.
- Explore how smaller, specialist suppliers can be encouraged to participate.
- Identify innovative approaches, tools and methodologies emerging in the market.
- Explore delivery models appropriate to the UK Higher Education sector.
- Understand suitable performance measures and reporting frameworks.
- Ensure the eventual ITT reflects practical, implementable and market-aligned requirements.

Insights gathered will directly inform the final specification and procurement approach.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1046894597

Total value (estimated):

GBP 130,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

01/01/2027 to 31/12/2030

CPV classifications:

79341000 - Advertising services.

79342200 - Promotional services.

79416000 - Public relations services.

79952000 - Event services.

79970000 - Publishing services.

Delivery regions:

UKE21 - York

Participation

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

Yes

Engagement

Engagement deadline:

07/08/2026

Engagement status:

The engagement has not yet been carried out.

Engagement process description:

Engagement activities

During the engagement period, the University may:

- Invite suppliers to submit written responses or position statements.
- Hold market engagement sessions or one-to-one discussions.
- Request examples of comparable projects and delivery models.
- Seek feedback on lot structure, contract term and evaluation approach.
- Request demonstrations of relevant methodologies, audience development approaches or event delivery models.

Participation is entirely voluntary and will not influence any future procurement evaluation.

How to participate

Suppliers interested in contributing to this engagement are invited to register their interest by completing a short questionnaire here (https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=juOKXFv4CUO37IYoFaN67rIjyQptK4ZBhDIz3ovo3BtUQUcyNjVHVFIzN0xWOENFTjFUTVJWREpXNS4u&route=shorturl)

The University is particularly interested in hearing from:

- Local and regional media organisations.
- Business and economic publishers.
- Event and stakeholder engagement specialists.
- Marketing, communications and public relations agencies.
- Membership and business network organisations.
- Consortia and collaborative partnerships.

Further details regarding timelines and engagement activities will be shared with registered participants.

Important notice

This notice is issued solely for the purpose of pre-market engagement.

It:

- Does not constitute a call for competition.
- Does not form part of any procurement process.
- Does not commit the University to undertake any future procurement.

The intention is to ensure that any future procurement is well-informed, proportionate and aligned to market capability.

Submission

Other organisations