Marketing Services
Framework Description
Marketing Services is a Scottish Government (Scottish Procurement) framework made available to APUC member institutions (Public Contracts Scotland ref. SEP458662). It has 6 lots: creative services split by call-off value above or below £50,000, digital marketing, public relations, market research, and events and video production. Applications for this framework are closed (it is not a DPS), and it ends on 30 November 2026 with no extension option.
Context & Use Case
Universities and colleges use it for student recruitment campaigns, brand work, digital advertising, PR, research into applicant behaviour and event or video content. The split of creative services by value means smaller campaigns can go to agencies appointed for lower-value work, while larger brand projects are competed among agencies on the higher-value lot.
Scope of Services
Creative Services for call-off contracts above £50,000 Creative Services for call-off contracts below £50,000 Digital Marketing Public Relations Market Research Events and Video Production
Lots
Creative Services for call off contracts above 50000GBP; Creative Services for call off contracts below 50000GBP; Digital Marketing; Public Relations; Market Research; Events and Video Production
Who Can Apply
Suits creative, digital, PR, research and video agencies, including smaller agencies suited to the lower-value creative lot. Applications for this framework are closed and it ends on 30 November 2026, so there is no route onto it now. Agencies should look out for any replacement procurement by the Scottish Government.
Buyer Benefits
Marketing teams can commission agencies for campaigns without running a tender each time, which matters when recruitment cycles leave little time. The value-based creative lots let them match agency size to the job, and specialist lots for research and PR mean they get the right expertise rather than a generalist's add-on.
Next Steps
The framework ends on 30 November 2026, so check Public Contracts Scotland for any replacement and its timetable. Agencies should decide which lots match their strengths, and prepare public sector case studies, measurable campaign results, and evidence on fair work and social value, which Scottish buyers often weigh.
How Athena Can Help
With this framework about to close, agencies need to move quickly on whatever replaces it. We give fast bid/no-bid decisions on which lots to target, then our help registering for marketing frameworks prepares the selection answers and case studies.
For the quality questions, our creative pitch and bid support turns campaign results into scored evidence, with win themes, a Bid Health Check and pricing that stays profitable. We also check every response for compliance before it goes in.
