Specialist Arts Centre Business Planner

Ashford Borough Council
South East
Open procedure
26 June 2026 to 26 January 2027

The consultant will transform existing feasibility studies for the former Ashford Odeon building into a market-ready operator proposition. The work involves two distinct phases: planning and managing pre-market engagement with potential operators, and providing technical support to the Council throughout the formal procurement process to appoint an operator for the new small-scale arts centre.

Open the official notice

Awarded value: £37k; As published
Published: 13 April 2026
Awarded: 29 June 2026; Blue Horizon Ventures
Contract length: 7 months; Ends 26 January 2027

What the contract covers

Single consultancy contract

Provision of specialist business consultancy services to develop operator propositions and manage procurement processes for arts and cultural venues.

Turn completed feasibility work for the former Ashford Odeon building into a clear, market-ready operator proposition
Plan and manage pre-market engagement in conjunction with Ashford Borough Council
Support a compliant procurement process in conjunction with the Council to appoint an operator for the revitalised building as a small-scale arts centre

Terms and requirements

Contract type: Single consultancy contract
Procedure: Open procedure
Initial term: 7 months
Contract dates: 26 June 2026 to 26 January 2027
Certifications asked for: None stated
Lots: 1
Suitable for SMEs: Yes
Category: Services
CPV codes: 79400000

Services in this contract

Tourism, culture and heritage business planningMain service£39k typicalBusiness planning turning arts centre feasibility work into a market-ready operator proposition
Procurement consultancy and tender support£91k typicalPre-market engagement and support to a compliant operator procurement

Lifecycle

Published
13 April 2026
Contract awardedto Blue Horizon Ventures
29 June 2026
Contract starts
26 June 2026
Contract ends
26 January 2027

The buyer

Ashford Borough Council

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The supplier

Blue Horizon Ventures

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Cite this contract

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/1097570/specialist-arts-centre-business-planner
Buyer reference: ASH/25/352
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-06813a
Last checked: 5 November 2026

Ashford Borough Council. Specialist Arts Centre Business Planner. Contract award, 13 April 2026. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/1097570/specialist-arts-centre-business-planner (accessed 5 November 2026).