Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Peer Networks Programme

The Council uses a web-based system on the South West Portal found at www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk (DueNorth) to manage quote and tender processes. New users to the system must register on this site to obtain a username and password before gaining access to the system.

Peer Networks is a national initiative funded by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) which aims to support the reduction of the UK's productivity gap by helping business leaders find practical solutions to strategic and operational challenges. It also forms part of the UK Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing EU transition, seeking to improve the resilience of SMEs, their capability to adapt their business models to the "new normal" and position themselves for future success, driving longer-term productivity gains.

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly LEP, in collaboration with the CIoS Growth Hub, is looking to procure providers to deliver the Peer Networks Programme locally. The Peer Networks will be groups of 11 business leaders or managers from the SME business community, facilitated by action learning methodology to resolve real business problems with their peers, alongside individual mentoring and coaching support.

Each 'cohort' will have access to 18 hours' worth of support (typically fortnightly sessions of 2-3 hours) and a minimum of 3.5 hours of one to one support before the end of March 2021. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has budget for 12 Peer Network cohorts of £15,000 per cohort, ideally seeking a geographical, sectoral and thematic spread across programme delivery locally.