Activity Plan Consultant for Leading Lights Project (National Historic Ships UK)

National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) wishes to appoint an experienced consultant (which may be an individual consultant or consultancy organisation) to develop an Activity Plan for the Leading Lights Project, a new capacity building scheme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

About the Project

NHS-UK has secured initial support of £155,600 from the Heritage Fund (£140,040) and the Pilgrim Trust (£15,560) to progress plans for the Leading Lights project, a five-year project which aims to invest in historic vessels at a UK-wide level, making the sector more resilient, connected and informed. It has been designed to impact a wide range of people, from vessel custodians to sector professionals, training organisations and funding bodies, as well as NHS-UK itself.

Responsibilities

The Activity Plan consultant will develop a full activity plan to Heritage Fund guidelines, as well as supporting documentation, to be delivered for the Delivery Phase application to the Heritage Fund. Responsibilities and expected outcomes will include an executive summary, consultation and audience analysis, risk assessment, project management structure development, job descriptions and a recruitment strategy for Delivery Phase roles, a working timetable, a full activity programme including briefs for related work and a full action plan, a detailed budget and cash flow.

Renumeration

The fee is up to £25,000 (excluding VAT), including expenses.

Submissions should indicate how the Activity Plan will be delivered within this budget, who will work on the project, their day rates and predicted time expenditure.

The appointed consultant will be required to develop the Plan by the end of June 2027 ahead of a Delivery Phase application to the Heritage Fund on 11 November 2027.

Requirements

Submissions should demonstrate an interest in the work of NHS-UK and the Leading Lights Project, proven track record of preparing and delivering successful Activity Plans for Heritage Fund projects, exp