BBC trims down design services roster

The BBC has cut the size of its design services roster, reducing it from seven consultancies to five following a tendering process which stretches back to September 2011.

Fifteen consultancies were shortlisted in September 2011 at a pre-qualification stage of the roster, which is subject to a biennial statutory review. 

Incumbent consultancies D8 and Studio Output retendered and were reappointed. They are joined by Fan Club Communications, Kent Lyons and Origin Creative.

999 Design, Blast, Harriman Steel and Premm Design are no longer on the roster. Neither is Red Stone Design, which has been working with the broadcaster for five years.

999 did reapply and was one of the 15 shortlisted. Consultancy managing director Aileen Geraghty says, ‘We had a great relationship with them for eight years and are disappointed not to have been appointed this time.’

Blast creative director and owner Colin Gifford confirmed that his consultancy chose not to reapply to the roster, Premm Design managing director Martin Premm-Jones confirmed that the consultancy was unsuccessful in its reapplication and Harriman Steel was unable to comment.

The new roster will be in place for two years with an option to extend for a further two.

The BBC says the new suppliers will ‘work across the BBC’s public service portfolio to execute and deliver a range of collateral to support the BBC’s creative activities across all divisions’.

A creative services roster remains in place, delivering brand strategy, brand identity, and creating on- and off-air marketing campaigns to promote  BBC content. This roster will be unaffected by the changes.

The design services roster has a separate remit to work with BBC departments delivering stand-alone design work, or working with the creative services roster to incorporate ‘brand assets’ where the brief requires it, according to the BBC.  

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