Purpose

Summary
EMB Ltd are in their 9th year of delivery on a contract procured in
2015 to provide generalist and specialist advisory support for the
Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub. They employ our dedicated Growth
Hub and Scale Up Advisers, who are the main entry point into the
wider business support services.
They also subcontract with a range of specialist providers to
provide sectoral and thematic advice services, which align to local
strategic plans and business demand – manufacturing, low
carbon, agriculture and horticulture, visitor economy,
digitisation, etc.
They offer a highly tailored and flexible service, a partnership
approach to delivery and have performed very well in terms of
contract delivery since inception.
A procurement exercise was expected to be undertaken during 24-25
to put in place a replacement contract. However, support services
are currently predominantly funded through the UK Shared Prosperity
Fund (UKSPF) which will end in March 2025. A replacement programme
for UKSPF is still to be confirmed by the new UK Government. At the
same time, local planning for a new Mayoral Combined County
Authority (MCCA) is underway, with a Mayoral election targeted for
May 2025.
It is very important that the delivery of the critical advice
services delivered under this contract to continue without a break
during these uncertain times. The service therefore wishes to
extend existing provision for an additional period to provide time
for future planning once the strategic requirements under the MCCA
are confirmed and funding agreed.
The recommendation is to direct award an extension to the existing
contract to EMB Ltd up to a maximum of £208,000 with a
contract end date of 31st March 2026.
Financial Implications
LCC will extend the existing Business Support Services contract
with EMB Ltd. To 31st March 2026 up to a maximum additional value
of £208,000. The total value of this contract uplift will be
funded through a combination of Department of Business & Trade
(DBT) Growth Hub Grant and expected funding from the MCCA

Decision

The Council currently has had a contract with
EMB Ltd to provide the generalist and specialist advisory services
core to the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub offer. The contract is
currently within its 9th year, which is the last year of its
contract period, and ends on 10th July 2025.
The contract is currently predominantly funded through the UK
Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which will end in March 2025. A
replacement programme for UKSPF is still to be confirmed by the new
UK Government. At the same time, local planning for a new Mayoral
Combined County Authority (MCCA) is underway, with a Mayoral
election targeted for May 2025.
It is very important that the delivery of the critical advice
services currently provided by EMB continue without a break during
these uncertain times. The service therefore wishes to extend
existing provision for an additional period to provide time for
future planning once the strategic requirements under the MCCA are
confirmed and funding agreed.
The recommendation is to direct award an extension to the existing
contract to EMB Ltd up to a maximum of £208,000 with a
contract end date of 31st March 2026.