APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR CHESHIRE AND WARRINGTON LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP

Transcription

1 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR CHESHIRE AND WARRINGTON LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP December 2016 Introduction Background and Summary of Requirements 1. The Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is a partnership between the private-sector and local authorities, with a private sector Chair and a majority of private sector Board members. The LEP was established in 2011, and is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Cheshire and Warrington economy and controlling an investment programme of around 1/3bn. The LEP has a strong business voice and continues to champion important issues directly with government. 2. The sub-region has the best performing economy in the North of England and one of the most successful and fastest growing economies in the country. We want to go further and have ambitious plans to deliver a 50bn economy for Cheshire and Warrington by 2040, delivering 139,000 new homes and 127,000 new jobs. The LEP will be central to delivering this ambition. 3. Working in partnership with local government, businesses, educational institutes and other public, private and community sector organisations, we want to raise the profile of our successes and keep Cheshire and Warrington firmly on the map. 4. A number of the Board members, including the Chair, are now approaching the end of their terms of appointment. The LEP is looking to appoint search consultants to assist in the process of recruiting and appointing nine Board members including the position of Chair. APPROACH Detail of requirements 5. The LEP Board currently comprises 15 members (all non-executive directors of Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership Limited) from across the private and public sector in the sub-region and representing a range of skills and economic sectors. 6. Board members would need to either live or work in the Cheshire and Warrington sub-region and are expected to dedicate up to 15 hours a month to LEP Business. In addition to serving on the main Board, most members also serve on one or more specialist sub-committees. With the exception of the position of Chair, Board roles are unpaid although travel and expenses can be claimed.

2 7. Members are generally appointed for a term of three years (with an option to extend for a further three, subject to agreement with the Chair). A number of current Board Members reach the end of their second term in March 2017, including the current Chair. The LEP is seeking to recruit a number of high quality representatives from the business community (including the voluntary sector) to fill nine Board vacancies. We would be looking to appoint existing Board members, if they are successful, for a term of up to three years, and new Board Members for a term of at least three years. 8. At the same time the LEP will seek to identify and appoint a new Chair and it is expected that some applicants will put themselves forward for either the position of Chair, Board member or both (in the event that an application to the position of Chair is unsuccessful). 9. Due to the anticipated volume of work involved in advertising, searching, assessing and shortlisting for this number of vacancies, the LEP is seeking to appoint duly qualified and experienced search consultants (or HR consultants) to assist in this process. 10. An outline timetable for delivery of the study is set out below: Activity Timescale Undertake Tendering process 28 th November 12 th December 2016 Selection and appointment of consultant w/c 12 th December 2016 Inception Meeting w/c 19 th December 2016 Advertising, search and recruitment January 2017 Shortlisting February 2017 Interviews and appointments March 2017 Position of LEP Chair Further Information 11. A Job Description for the position of LEP Chair is attached as Appendix A. 12. The position of LEP Chair is an important position both within the sub-region and on the national stage. The Chair will work closely with the executive team to set the direction of the LEPs work and will play a pivotal role in delivering benefits to the region, as well as promoting the benefits of investment in Cheshire and Warrington. The post holder will be required to make a significant commitment in terms of time and flexibility, often required to make trips to London at short notice. The overall time commitment is around 2 days a week. This is a remunerated post (currently receiving 20,600 per annum). Board Member Further Information 13. A Job description for the position of LEP Board Member is attached as Appendix B

3 14. The LEP is seeking to fill up to nine Board positions (including Chair), and in doing so is wanting to make sure that the Board is reflective of Cheshire and Warrington as a whole, including in terms of business composition, gender, ethnicity, geography etc. It is expected that applicants will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the Cheshire and Warrington economy, with at least one drawn from our SME base. 15. Consultants should account for the possibility that a number of existing Board members may seek to re-apply. The LEP adheres to the guidelines around public appointments and so the diversity of the Board will also be an important consideration. The Consultant Team 16. The LEP is looking to appoint suitable qualified and experienced consultants best able to demonstrate that they can help it quickly identify and appoint strong candidates. Firms that wish to tender for this role should therefore clearly set out their understanding of the market and field of candidates for roles such as this, the approach they intend to take in identifying and encouraging applications and how they will ensure that the shortlist they recommend to the LEP contains strong candidates that are well suited and likely to be a success in the role. 17. Interviewing and appointment of shortlisted candidates will be undertaken by a special panel and tenderers should set out their proposals for supporting panel members through this process. RESPONDING TO THIS SPECIFICATION Tenders must address all the requirements and be in the format requested below. Tenders not in this format will not be considered. Tenderers are requested to provide core information in summary form with detail in appendices. 1.1 The following must be supplied: General Organisation identity including name, address, telephone number, address, company registration number, VAT registration number and website address (if applicable) Details of the main point of contact within the organisation for this tender Name, address, telephone number and address of any third parties involved in this tender A list of all key personnel to be deployed on the project and details of their previous relevant experience.

4 1.1.5 Details of recent experience of delivering similar commissions together with details of at least one relevant referee. 1.2 Proposals A response on a point by point basis outlining how the Detail of Requirements specified above will be met and demonstrating experience in the successful delivery of similar projects. Process and work-programme diagrams can be included. 1.3 Pricing The cost associated with delivering the services requested. All prices must be fixed and firm, quoted in pounds sterling and exclusive of VAT. Tenderers should detail any ancillary costs and expenses included in the price The LEP s budget for this commission is in range 35k - 45k excluding VAT. Submission 1.4 Tenders must be completed in accordance with the format specified above. Tenders which are incomplete will not be evaluated. 1.5 Tender proposals should be submitted via to the LEP s Deputy Chief Executive, Mark Livesey at mark.livesey@871candwep.co.uk 1.6 Deadline for receipt of tenders is noon on Monday 12 th December Tenders delivered after this time will not be accepted. 2. EXAMINATION AND EVALUATION OF TENDERS 2.1 Tenders will be assessed initially by reference to the following pass / fail criteria: (i) (ii) Completeness of proposals and tender documentation as specified in the Details of Requirements and Responding to this Specification of this document; Stated ability of the Tenderer to meet all of the requirements specified in the Details of Requirements of this document; 2.2 Award Criteria Proposals will be scored against the following criteria.

5 Knowledge of the North West economy and the key players who operate across the sub-region Experience of recruiting to similar non-executive director roles Cost Content, delivery and originality Staff experience 2.3 Clarification During the evaluation period clarification may be sought in writing (or via ) from Tenderers. Responses to requests for clarification may not materially change any of the elements of the tenders submitted. The LEP may choose to invite a number of the most competitive Tenderers to make presentations on their proposals for the purpose of elaboration, clarification and / or aiding mutual understanding. 3. GENERAL INFORMATION 3.1 Financial Arrangements Payments for services covered by this invitation to tender will be on submission of appropriate invoices, subject to Cheshire and Warrington LEP s standard payment terms, and which will be based on agreed deliverables. Invoicing arrangements will be agreed with the successful provider, following the award of contract. 3.2 Contract A contract will be awarded to the Tenderer whose proposal is deemed to be the most economically advantageous subject to agreement on conditions of that contract. Please note that the LEP reserves the right to cancel the Tender process at any time prior to a contract being entered into. The LEP is not bound to accept the lowest price, or any tender submitted. 3.3 Further Information and Queries Any clarifications to information contained in this document must be submitted by no later than Wednesday 7 th December Any additional information provided will be made available to all potential Tenderers via the LEP website, Name: Mark Livesey mark.livesey@871candwep.co.uk