Business Planning Services Consultant

This Invitation to Tender (ITT) is issued by the London Diocesan Fund (LDF) on behalf of the City Deanery to solicit proposals from qualified consultants. The primary objective of this ITT is to appoint a consultant who will provide expert Business Planning Services, as part of a wider National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) supported project: 'Square Mile Churches: towards a sustainable future'. Overall Project Aims The City Deanery is seeking to support each Parish and Guild Council, to enable them to secure a sustainable future, by adopting a co-ordinated approach across the group. The aim is to ensure the Square Mile Churches become inclusive and lively places, used to their full potential to support Christian mission, as well as supporting community and social outcomes, such as learning and wellbeing, while generating sufficient income to be self-sustaining. To achieve this, the work being commissioned will feed into the operational as well as strategic objectives. A City-wide fundraising appeal will be launched, while also trialling a range of education and learning activities to engage new audiences, especially those on the City fringes., Key Deliverables

• Provide a strategic overview and SWOT analysis based on current operations, taking into account the SWOT undertaken by the Community Development Plan consultants.
• Informed by the findings of the Enhanced Energy Audits, Community Development Plan and Framework Conservation Plan, propose capital options for consideration by each parish and lead a peer group online learning event for all of the churches, followed by discussions at a round table meeting for each church with the incumbent, PCC/GCC members present, plus the QS and QI to secure feedback from everyone.
• Analyse options in the Table below and identify a preferred capital option in consultation with the incumbent, PCC/GCC, QS and QI.
• Present a post-project scenario, highlighting the positive impact of a capital project on operations.
• Identify with the QS outline capital costs for the preferred option.
• Review outline repair costs prepared by the QS for each participating church.
• Through the process, identify which Square Mile Church might make a suitable base for a permanent education resource centre.
• Write up the process and findings in individual Capital Options Appraisals & Business Review reports.
• Attend monthly PT meetings with the wider NLHF consultant team to ensure all strands of work are informed by each other.