Business Planner: Community Audit and 10-Year Business Plan

St John of Jerusalem, South Hackney, is a Grade II* listed Gothic Revival church, built 1845 to 1848 to designs by Edward Charles Hakewill. Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the PCC’s project, St John of Jerusalem: Celebrating 200 Years, will secure the long-term sustainability of the church while opening up its heritage to the local community.

The PCC is inviting tenders from consultants to produce a Community Audit and a 10-year outline Business Plan, suitable for submission with a Heritage Fund Development stage bid in the future. The Community Audit will identify local need, gaps in community provision and audiences not currently being reached. The Business Plan, informed by the Audit, will set out a sustainable operating model with a clear proposal for income generation, covering vision and objectives, market context, SWOT analysis, governance review and skills audit, operational plans, a financial plan and budgets for 2026 to 2036, and an outline Activity Plan. The consultant will workshop the project vision with the PCC, congregation and wider community, participate in a community consultation event in Advent 2026, and work closely with the project team on the phasing of future capital works.

The commission runs from September 2026, with the Community Audit in autumn 2026 and the Business Plan agreed by the PCC by May 2027. Fees of up to £16,000 for the Business Plan and up to £3,000 for the Community Audit are available (excluding VAT but including all expenses). Bids from multi-disciplinary organisations and specially formed collaborations are welcome.

To request the Invitation to Tender, please email the Project Manager, Caroline Johnson, at [email protected]. Tenders must be received by 12 noon on Friday 21 August 2026.