NWUPC members can now access the re-tendered (National) Education Recruitment Advertising and Resourcing Services (NERARS) Framework. Led by SUPC and tendered in conjunction with the Universities Advertising Group (UAG), the framework has been extended to include student recruitment marketing. The retendered agreement provides a compliant and responsible route for universities to procure recruitment advertising and student marketing services.
Offering a cost-effective procurement option with access to eleven reputable, specialist suppliers in advertising, recruitment and marketing, SUPC expects in excess of £60m in university and public sector spend throughout the four-year framework. The agreement will run from 8 March 2023 until 7 March 2027. The agreement is open to all NWUPC members, as well as those from the following consortia: APUC, HEPCW, LUPC, NEUPC and SUPC.
The main changes from the previous agreement include:
Key benefits of using the NERARS framework agreement:
The following suppliers have been awarded to the agreement under two lots:
How do I call-off from the framework agreement?
Call-off from this framework agreement is by means of direct award (ranking) or further competition only.
How has sustainability, equality and diversity been considered as part of the tender?
Further information:
Launching the NERARS framework, Leigh Kopec, Head of SUPC says: “with the complex nature of student recruitment at home and internationally, we’ve seen a growing focus on marketing and advertising initiatives for many years and this looks set to continue. As universities compete to create the most engaging experiences possible for prospective students – and the fee income this can attract when done well – support is needed to make the most of digital journeys and media promotion. This new NERARS framework exists to help institutions make informed choices about their investment in advertising and marketing activities from trusted suppliers.”
Full agreement details including how to use the agreement are available through the HE Contracts Database. For any further questions or queries about this framework contact procurement@nwupc.ac.uk.