Published date: 14 January 2026

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 21 November 2025, 10am

Contract summary

Industry

  • Advertising and marketing services - 79340000

  • Recruitment services - 79600000

Location of contract

North West

Value of contract

£200,000

Procurement reference

2025-Oct-03

Published date

14 January 2026

Closing date

21 November 2025

Closing time

10am

Contract start date

17 December 2025

Contract end date

31 January 2030

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Call-off from a framework agreement

A mini-competition or direct purchase from a pre-established framework agreement.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The University of Chester invited tenders from specialist Higher Education marketing agencies on Lot 2 - Student Recruitment Marketing of the Education Recruitment Advertising and Resourcing Services (National) NERARS 2022 Framework Agreement (Reference: PFB4051 SU). The appointed agency will primarily support media planning and buying for UK student recruitment campaigns, with a clear focus on driving the University's growth agenda and increasing home undergraduate student numbers. This will be a two-year contract, with the option to extend for up to a further 24 months on a year-by-year basis.

While the core requirement is media planning and buying, the University expects the successful agency to work collaboratively on campaign strategy, providing audience, market and competitor insights to strengthen our competitive position. Additionally, the University may occasionally draw on the agency's creative services to support the development of campaign assets and messaging.

The total contract value in this notice is an estimate of the Management Fee payable in relation to the full potential four years of this contract, if extension periods are taken up. The subsequent spend through media organisations is estimated to be around £2.5m over that time.

Award information

Awarded date

16 December 2025

Contract start date

17 December 2025

Contract end date

31 January 2030

Total value of contract

£200,000

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Havas People

Address

Havas House,
Hermitage Court
Hermitage Lane
Maidstone
Kent
ME16 9NT

Reference

Companies House number: 2793794

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Contact name

Procurement Services

Address

Parkgate Road
CHESTER
CH1 4BJ
England

Telephone

01244512910

Email

procurement@chester.ac.uk

Website

www.chester.ac.uk