Case studies

24/7 Elite Healthcare Wins Place on NLC Flexible Framework for Self-Directed Support

Background

24/7 Elite Healthcare Ltd is a Scottish home care provider that registered with the Care Inspectorate in June 2024. In Autumn 2024 the business renewed its SDP tender training, and by February 2025 it had won a place on the £800m, Self-Directed Support Flexible Framework in North Lanarkshire.

Early Days

When first planning her business in 2020, registered nurse Jesca Masiyazi knew that she wanted to continue to work in health care, and to operate within the public sector, but she was unsure which route to take to market.

She said: “I discovered SDP through my Business Gateway Adviser Mark Wright, and I found that on the SDP website there are a lot of training resources. I am quite a keen learner, and I like to do things right, and SDP helped me to do this with its live tender training and recordings.”

While participating in training, Jesca discovered that local authorities advertise their healthcare opportunities through Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) and use Framework Agreements to procure services.

SDP Training

Armed with this knowledge, Jesca participated in the SDP webinar Understanding and Bidding - Frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS), to learn how to apply to a Framework Agreement. She also joined SDP webinars that helped improve her bid writing and helped her understand the Single Procurement Document (SPD).

Jesca recalled: “Before SDP training I had no clue where the council tenders were advertised, how to get on Public Contracts Scotland, or how to get on a framework! I did not dream that one day I would be able to write a tender myself!”

With her sights set on winning local authority contracts, Jesca worked tirelessly to find the right business model and team to fulfil this dream. In 2020 she established 24/7 Elite Healthcare, and got it registered with the care Inspectorate that June, 2024.

Revisiting Resources

Once her business was formed, Jesca went back to the SDP website to double-down on her learning.  

She said: “I followed through the training from the introductory Level 1 course, right through to the end Level 3, and at times I even repeated training just to refresh my knowledge.”

In Autumn 2024, Jesca joined SDP training webinars that covered Working with the Public Sector, Using PCS, Getting Your Business Tender Ready, Planning Your Bid, Frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems, Improving Your Bid Score, Responding to Tender Policy Requirements and Understanding Your Role in Contract Management.

Networking Events

After gaining confidence in training, Jesca signed up for SDP networking events, to introduce her business to local authority buying teams. Between October and November 2024, Jesca attended SDP Meet the Buyer South as well as Fife and Lanarkshire Meet the Buyer events.

During these events, Jesca learned of contract opportunities from council procurement teams, but she also connected with business support bodies, who offered advice to help grow 24/7 Elite Healthcare.

She said: “I met people from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and got information on insurance and policies.”

Winning a Place on a Framework

After months of training and networking, Jesca felt ready to bid when the North Lanarkshire Council Self-Directed Support Flexible Framework tender was advertised.

Putting her skills to work, she submitted the bid in December 2024, and in February 2025 she was notified that she had won a place on the Framework Agreement.

Jesca said: “The overall framework has an estimated value of £800m, lasting 10 years, with annual entry points, and it is on year five. The framework had 26 suppliers joining it this year, and 24/7 Elite Healthcare has won a place under two separate lots of work, one for Adults and one for Care at Home. I am hopeful that we will deliver a good service and we will continue to develop a good professional relationship with NLC and the Care Inspectorate and other stakeholders”.

By joining this Framework, 24/7 Elite Healthcare entered into a shortlist of suppliers who can be selected to provide care and home care services for North Lanarkshire Council.

Jesca reflected: “That was my first tender application and I am thrilled to have won it. I moved from having zero clients, when I started my business, to being on a framework and that is very exciting.”

Future Plans

Jesca is happy to have increased her chances of working with North Lanarkshire Council, and now she is looking to do the same with other local authorities.

She said: “I am quite keen to get onto other council frameworks; at the moment I am trying to get on to one through Scotland Excel for East Renfrewshire Council.

“At the SDP Meet the Real Buyer Glasgow event I was also speaking to Glasgow City Council and they explained the opportunities that they have coming up in the near future, so I would like to work with them too.”

Advice to Suppliers

Looking to the future, Jesca plans to continue her networking, learning and bid writing.

She said: “I would encourage every business, new and experienced, to work with SDP and use their training and events. The Programme is marvellous! The training is very inclusive, and trainers are patient enough to answer any question. Everyone feels respected and valued!”

“Without SDP training I would not have understood how frameworks work or how to apply for a tender. But now I am getting more and more confident, and I still register and continue to participate in the training in order to polish up my skills.”

Register for free with SDP today.