Former Kier healthcare manager sets up Captivate

Kier’s former healthcare framework manager for the North, Robbie Blackhurst, has set up a new bid management, business growth and project management consultancy.

Captivate is a Liverpool-based consultancy which will work across the North of England.

Blackhurst was framework manager for Kier for more than 10 years, and worked on pre-construction and bid management for projects such as Merseycare’s Medium Secure Unit and the redevelopment of Berwick Infirmary, before leaving the company in May 2017.

Following his role with Kier, Blackhurst also held a role with Robertson Group as public sector partnerships director until August this year.

Speaking to Place North West, he said Captivate had already won clients including Curtins and Edge PS.

Framework bids that Blackhurst has worked on previously include bids for the North West Construction Hub, the ProCure 21+ healthcare framework, and the University of Manchester’s framework.

Captivate has also developed cloud-based software to help companies manage their bid processes by capturing project data, client information and bid evidence.

Blackhurst said he had ambitions to expand the company beyond its current size, and that the consultancy was looking to secure more clients across the North West and Yorkshire.