Consultant required - mapping innovation

Mapping of Inclusive Innovation in the BANES area 

We are looking for applications for a short piece of consultancy work mapping the provision for inclusive innovation within Bath and North East Somerset. The value of the work is £4000 (inclusive of VAT) and the candidate should be able to deliver between January - March 2024. If this sounds interesting, please see the full brief below.

Background 

The University of Bath and Bath Spa University are members of the National Civic Impact Accelerator programme run by the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement and Sheffield Hallam University. The programme is being run to increase the connectivity, momentum, and effectiveness of the HE sector’s civic activities for local societal, economic, and environmental benefit and maximise the contribution universities can make towards addressing societal challenges and responding to policy priorities. 

The Bath partnership (Uni of Bath, Bath Spa University and Bath and North East Somerset Council) has identified that there is common interest in inclusive innovation in the region.  

Inclusive innovation is vital for fostering diversity, equity, and creativity in the community. It drives sustainable economic and social development. In 2020 the pandemic shone a light on the existence of a two-track economy in BANES – one in tourism and hospitality and the other in the digital space, with little movement of employees between the two. To increase economic resilience a need to diversify the employment opportunities was identified, which requires innovation and enterprise, and therefore an environment that works to support this.   

However, there is a significant gap in knowledge of inclusive innovation provision in the region. For example, what services are available, who is providing them, who is accessing them, and what the outcomes and benefits are. 

The work fits into the existing Future Ambition Board (FAB), which was set up to oversee the delivery of Bath and North East Somerset’s Civic Agreement . Within the FAB there are a number of focused strands of activity that pull together interested parties from across the city to work on a specific challenge. There is a focused subgroup of work within the FAB structure titled 'Creativity and Innovation' and this mapping work will be used as an initial starting point for the innovation work of this strand. 

Description of the brief 

We are looking for an individual / team to undertake an initial mapping exercise of innovation provision across Bath and North East Somerset. We anticipate this mapping will involve the identification of providers; of services (e.g. direct support in the form of seed funding, administration support, legal advice; or the development of innovation culture through e.g. networking activities, debates, conferences); and also develop an understanding of how each organisation approaches equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Mapping will give insight into any underserved people, communities or disciplines, any areas where there is support but it's failing to reach relevant audiences, or areas where new interventions are required.  

We anticipate that this work will be largely desk based by reviewing the websites of innovation providers, and will involve a limited number of informal interviews with providers (contacts provided by the University of Bath and Bath Spa University). 

Note that, once this intelligence-gathering phase is complete, the Bath Partnership will host a sensemaking workshop with key providers of innovation support and services in the region to explore findings. The workshop will allow a shared understanding of the term and practice of Inclusive Innovation to develop. The workshop will also be an opportunity for the regional stakeholders to co-develop next steps through the Inclusive Innovation Working Group of the Future Ambition Board.  The delivery of this workshop is outside the scope of this commission. 

Person / team specification 

We invite responses from an individual or team with the following: 

Experience 

1. should be experienced in conducting desk-based research and collating evidence from a range of sources  
2. be experienced in qualitatively analysing data to create insight and recommendations on the results 
3. be happy conducting informal interviews online and in-person 

 Knowledge and Skills 

1. understanding of the innovation services that may be available in a region 
2. understanding of the types of providers of innovation services in a region
3. understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion agendas
4. experience of undertaking systematic desk research to map services and gaps in services 
5. have strong written communication skills with the ability to communicate research findings, insights and recommendations clearly and effectively  

 Personal Attributes 

1. commitment to working in a collaborative manner  
2. demonstrable ability to provide good attention to detail  
3. demonstrate an ability to work on own initiative and to agreed deadlines  

Deliverables 

We are looking for a written output e.g. a report or slide deck that can be used to inform the sensemaking workshop discussions. Please note that you will not be required to participate in the sensemaking workshop. 

The written output should present existing provisions in inclusive innovation and highlight gaps in that provision or areas where the FAB could usefully focus attention. 

Timetable 

Tender value 

The value of this work is £4000 (inclusive of VAT) 

Payment 

Payment schedule to be agreed with the provider  

Submission 

Prospective providers are asked to submit a written proposal detailing their approach to the work, previous relevant experience, and a breakdown of costs. 

The submission should be no more than three sides of A4.  

Selection and award criteria 

The above criteria (excluding Price) will be scored on a scale of 0-5:  

1. no response given 
2. response significantly unsatisfactory / a number of major concerns 
3. response unsatisfactory / minor concerns / few major concerns 
4. response has some minor concerns 
5. response fully meets requirements with no reservations 
6. response meets requirements and demonstrates added value/ innovation 

Deadlines 

Please send your submission to Katrina Kelly on ext-affairs@bath.ac.uk  by 17:00 on 10 January 2025.