Highlands and Islands Enterprise Seeks Partners To Deliver Advice
20th March 2006
Suppliers with experience in providing a range of advice services are being invited to tender for work with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
The HIE network currently has contracts in place with four suppliers - Development Partners Ltd; ROC Plus Ltd; Alasdair Bruce Associates Ltd, and Business Partners (Scotland) Ltd - to provide advice to local enterprise company clients across the Highlands and Islands.
These contracts, which were set up in 2003, are due to end in October, so HIE is now inviting expressions of interest from potential suppliers throughout Scotland and beyond.
Suppliers wishing to express interest in tendering for this work can do so through the HIE website - www.hie.co.uk/tenders.htm
HIE has enjoyed positive feedback since moving the delivery of its advice services to external supply partners three years ago.
A study carried out by independent market research firm TNS System Three found high levels of satisfaction, with 72 percent of customers rating their adviser either very good or excellent.
The same proportion reported their organisation had gained a big or very big advantage from using the adviser and 90 percent agreed they would probably recommend the adviser to others.
European Commission regulations for public sector organisations tendering large contracts mean that the opportunities must be advertised internationally, through the European Union's official journal - http://ted.publications.eu.int/official
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