Decision details

To ensure the continuation of the Stepping Up programme as part of the council and Mayor’s commitment to improving diversity in city leadership roles.

Entering into a contract with Bloom Procurement Services Limited (Bloom) for
•the management of the development and delivery of the Stepping Up Programme (the Stepping Up Services); and
•professional procurement services to support the procurement of the Stepping Up Services (including running a tender process to enable the council to choose the party Bloom will sub-contract the Stepping Up Services to) (the Procurement Services)
This contract with Bloom Professional Services enables them to provide specialist professional services via Davidson and Partners to lead the development and delivery of Stepping Up, a City-wide Leadership Diversity Programme. It is a City-wide initiative with participants who work in many different employment sectors, designed to increase the diversity of leadership within major city and regional employers by developing members of staff from under-represented groups to ‘step up’ in to more senior roles.
The contract includes the provision of services to design and run the course during its third and fourth years, and to raise funds and secure in-kind support to support the sustained continuation of Stepping Up. It is being awarded following a legally compliant tender process using an existing Framework Agreement – Nepro 3 – to Bloom Professional Services.

A Procurement Waiver was considered but rejected as the lifetime value of the programme was approaching financial thresholds requiring a tender exercise under European Union procurement regulations.
Alternative hosting models, including within the private sector or a Community Interest Company, were explored as options but rejected due to time sensitivity and the impact of the Covid-19 giving many potential partners little capacity to consider this potential within the necessary timeframes.