Aster Group £728k PA/PR Consultancy Framework Award

Award

Public Affairs (PA) and Public Relations (PR) Consultancy Services Framework

• ASTER GROUP LIMITED UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-035849

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05989c (view related notices)

Published 20 April 2026, 9:14pm

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Contents

Scope Lots (3)
- Lot 1. Lot 1 - Public Affairs (PA) Services
- Lot 2. Public Relations (PR) Services
- Lot 3. Ad Hoc Special Projects
Contracts (3)
- Contract 1. Public Affairs (PA) (2 suppliers)
- Contract 2. Public Relations (PR) (2 suppliers)
- Contract 3. Special Ad-Hoc Projects (4 suppliers)
Information about tenders Submission Procedure Suppliers (6)
- BUILDING RELATIONS LTD
- CAVENDISH CONSULTING LIMITED
- CITY PRESS SERVICES LIMITED
- JEFFERSON COMMUNICATIONS JC LIMITED
- MADANO PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
- SEE MEDIA LIMITED
Contracting authority

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Scope

Description

Aster Group is undergoing a strategic transformation aimed at enhancing public engagement, improving stakeholder relationships, and increasing visibility across its key housing sectors.

As part of this initiative, we require expert PA/PR Consultancy services to support our internal team and boost our communications strategy, manage media relations, and ensure consistent messaging across all platforms.

It is the intention of Aster Group therefore to establish a framework agreement with suitably qualified Supplier(s) who will provide selected PA/PR Consultancy Services to meet needs that cannot be met in-house by its own provision, or where additional knowledge and expertise is required.

We intend to establish a framework with 3 Lots as follows:

Lot 1 - Public Affairs (PA) Services

Lot 2 - Public Relations (PR) Services

Lot 3 - Ad hoc Special Projects

Project Objectives

•Real-time high-level counsel and insight in a period of rapid change and in a time of increased scrutiny

•Deliver media relations and 24/7 high level crisis and issues management for both media and stakeholder engagement work.

•Plan and execute creative and innovative campaigns, producing high-quality, accurate content, and effective and measurable tactical delivery

•Innovative applications of technology such as AI

•Expertise in navigating the Devolution agenda

•Strong political connections across all parties

•Nuanced understanding of the political environment

•Ways to showcase expansion in new geographies and refreshed service offers

•Create opportunities to educate and influence, as a sector leader to ensure we have a trusted and sought-after voice in the sector

•Support for M&A activity

Project Desired Outcomes

•Drive positive media coverage including key messages in key media including driving opportunities across the national and trade press

•Increased share of voice and brand awareness among key influencers and media

•Increased opportunities to build partnerships and relationships with organisations and individuals that will help us deliver our strategy

•Increased opportunities to influence and shape policy

•Creative campaigns that will support our strategy and elevate and strengthen our position in the market

Commercial tool

Establishes an open framework

What is an open framework?

Lot 1. Lot 1 - Public Affairs (PA) Services

Description

PA services will focus on navigating the evolving political landscape, so we understand change and impact on our services and customers, and to help us inform and influence government policy. This includes:• Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement: Building relationships with key stakeholders across central and local government• Policy Monitoring and Intelligence: Monitoring political developments to anticipate and respond to change• Strategic Counsel: Providing strategic advice for proactive and reactive engagement• Advocacy and Representation: Providing advocacy development, consultation input, policy insight, and stakeholder representation• Reporting and evaluation: Deliver regular, engaging reports that highlight stakeholder engagement, policy developments, and most importantly the campaign's outcomes and impact, while continuously evaluating and improving public affairs activities.

Lot 2. Public Relations (PR) Services

Description

PR services will focus on managing public perception and reputation of the Group, enhancing general brand awareness, and supporting our Corporate Strategy and Strategic Objectives. This includes:• Strategic communications planning: Delivering a well-executed communications plan that is driven by campaign(s) to tell our story and maintains momentum with the right and most impactful media and key influencers.• Creating compelling and engaging content: a focus on high-quality communications to best connect and engage with media, customers, emerging influencers and other target audiences.• Strategic counsel: Providing strategic advice for proactive and reactive engagement to inform C-Suite level counsel.• Crisis and issues management: Access to 24/7 reactive communications support for high-level issues management.• Reporting and Evaluation: Deliver regular, engaging reports that evaluate PR activity effectiveness and highlight campaign engagement, outcomes, and their impact on achieving business objectives.

Lot 3. Ad Hoc Special Projects

Description

From time to time and as need may arise, Aster Group will require support for ad-hoc projects that extend beyond our day-to-day PA and PR programmes. These projects would be delivered over fixed time periods and may need to pull on skills across the full comms mix: PR, PA, research, social media, placemaking, event support, rich media content creation, among others. Results would need to be tracked, measured with impacts and outcomes played back to the business in a compelling and engaging way. These can include but not limited to:• Research e.g. consumer, market, perception studies, economic impact reports.• Roundtable / events support e.g. thought leadership campaigns• M&A activity e.g. to support growth ambitions• Social media support e.g. strategic guidance, measurement and evaluation

Contract 1. Public Affairs (PA)

Lots

Lot 1. Lot 1 - Public Affairs (PA) Services

Suppliers (2)

-

Contract value

• £304,000 including VAT Framework lot values may be shared with other lots

Below the relevant threshold

Award decision date

20 April 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

20 April 2026

Earliest date the contract will be signed

6 May 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

• 7 May 2026 to 6 May 2030
• 4 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

Business and management consultancy and related services

Contract locations

• UKC - North East (England)
• UKD - North West (England)
• UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
• UKF - East Midlands (England)
• UKG - West Midlands (England)
• UKH - East of England
• UKI - London
• UKJ - South East (England)
• UKK - South West (England)

Contract 2. Public Relations (PR)

Lots

Lot 2. Public Relations (PR) Services

Suppliers (2)

-

Contract value

• £304,000 including VAT Framework lot values may be shared with other lots

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

20 April 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

20 April 2026

Earliest date the contract will be signed

6 May 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

• 7 May 2026 to 6 May 2030
• 4 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

Business and management consultancy and related services

Contract locations

• UKC - North East (England)
• UKD - North West (England)
• UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
• UKF - East Midlands (England)
• UKG - West Midlands (England)
• UKH - East of England
• UKI - London
• UKJ - South East (England)
• UKK - South West (England)

Contract 3. Special Ad-Hoc Projects

Lots

Lot 3. Ad Hoc Special Projects

Suppliers (4)

-

-

Contract value

• £120,000 including VAT Framework lot values may be shared with other lots

Below the relevant threshold

Award decision date

20 April 2026

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

20 April 2026

Earliest date the contract will be signed

6 May 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

• 7 May 2026 to 6 May 2030
• 4 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

Business and management consultancy and related services

Contract locations

• UK - United Kingdom

Information about tenders

Lot 1. Lot 1 - Public Affairs (PA) Services

• 16 tenders received
• 16 tenders assessed in the final stage:
  • 16 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
• 2 suppliers awarded contracts
• 14 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Lot 2. Public Relations (PR) Services

• 19 tenders received
• 19 tenders assessed in the final stage:
  • 19 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
• 2 suppliers awarded contracts
• 17 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Lot 3. Ad Hoc Special Projects

• 16 tenders received
• 16 tenders assessed in the final stage:
  • 16 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • 1 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
• 4 suppliers awarded contracts
• 12 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Submission

Submission type

Tenders

Procedure

Procedure type

Competitive flexible procedure

Suppliers

BUILDING RELATIONS LTD

• Companies House: 09345656
• Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBCP-8218-DDMM 1 Tower House

Hoddesdon

EN11 8UR

United Kingdom

Email: hollie@building-relations.co.uk

Website: http://www.building-relations.co.uk

Region: UKH23 - Hertfordshire

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 3. Special Ad-Hoc Projects

CAVENDISH CONSULTING LIMITED

• Companies House: 03096503
• Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYNQ-4671-CMRT 8-10 Mansion House Place

London

EC4N 8BJ

United Kingdom

Email: tenders@cavendishconsulting.com

Website: https://cavendishconsulting.com

Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 1. Public Affairs (PA)

CITY PRESS SERVICES LIMITED

• Companies House: 01924203
• Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQJL-7821-RZVH 5th Floor Union

Manchester

M2 6LW

United Kingdom

Email: jack.Morris@Citypress.co.uk

Website: http://www.citypress.co.uk

Region: UKD33 - Manchester

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 2. Public Relations (PR)

Contract 3. Special Ad-Hoc Projects

JEFFERSON COMMUNICATIONS JC LIMITED

• Companies House: 14338059
• Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWPP-3223-GHBJ First Floor Salisbury House

London

EC2M 5QQ

United Kingdom

Email: tenders@jeffersoncommunications.co.uk

Website: https://www.jeffersoncommunications.co.uk

Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 3. Special Ad-Hoc Projects

MADANO PARTNERSHIP LIMITED

• Companies House: 07858061
• Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWNG-4231-JCHT Riverside House

London

SE1 9HA

United Kingdom

Email: matthew.houlsby@madano.com

Website: http://www.madano.com

Region: UKI44 - Lewisham and Southwark

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 1. Public Affairs (PA)

Contract 3. Special Ad-Hoc Projects

SEE MEDIA LIMITED

• Companies House: 08836659
• Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTMD-7217-XNXD 3 Lyttleton Court

Halesowen

B63 3HN

United Kingdom

Email: hello@see-media.co.uk

Website: https://see-media.co.uk /

Region: UKG36 - Dudley

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 2. Public Relations (PR)

Contracting authority

ASTER GROUP LIMITED

• Companies House: IP29573R
• Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRNW-9755-MGMY Sarson Court

Devizes

SN10 2AZ

United Kingdom

Email: aster.procurement@aster.co.uk

Region: UKK15 - Wiltshire CC

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government