Marketing Services Framework
Framework Description
Sunderland City Council's Marketing Services Framework gives the Council access to specialist agencies across seven lots: strategy and planning, design, photography, video, media buying, specialist consultancy, and web and digital. It supports corporate communications, public engagement and service promotion. Advertised under Find a Tender notice 002358-2025, the framework runs until 31 July 2030.
Context & Use Case
Council teams use it to commission campaigns, creative work and content without keeping every skill in-house: a public health campaign might draw on strategy, design and media buying, while a regeneration project might need photography, video and web content. Agencies could bid for single or multiple lots, so specialists and full-service agencies both have a place.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Strategy and Planning Lot 2: Design Lot 3: Photography Lot 4: Video Lot 5: Media Buying Lot 6: Specialist Consultancy Services Lot 7: Web and Digital
Lots
Yes: Lot 1 - Strategy and Planning, Lot 2 - Design, Lot 3 - Photography, Lot 4 - Video, Lot 5 - Media Buying, Lot 6 - Specialist Consultancy Services, Lot 7 - Web and Digital
Who Can Apply
Suits marketing agencies, design studios, photographers, video producers, media buyers and digital specialists with public sector experience; North East businesses were encouraged. Applications for this framework are closed, so agencies not appointed must wait for its re-tender, likely around 31 July 2030.
Buyer Benefits
Pre-appointed agencies in each discipline let Council officers brief agencies and start work quickly, with rates and quality already tested. Splitting lots by discipline gives access to genuine specialists, and local agencies bring knowledge of Sunderland's audiences, places and partners.
Next Steps
Appointed agencies should get to know Council service teams and respond quickly to call-offs. Others should keep their OPEN portal registration (open-uk.org) current, build public sector case studies with measurable campaign results, and prepare for the re-tender expected around July 2030, while looking at other North East marketing frameworks in the meantime.
How Athena Can Help
Creative call-offs are usually won on understanding the brief and showing results from similar campaigns. For agencies on Sunderland's framework, Athena's proposal writing support helps you respond to each brief with sharp win themes and clear pricing.
If you are not on it, our marketing framework registrations service finds other public sector marketing frameworks open now, and our bid/no-bid guidance for agencies keeps you focused on the briefs worth pursuing.
