Kirklees Council, a metropolitan single-tier authority and the 13th largest local authority in the UK by population, appointed CFH to support the delivery of their all-important election communications following a competitive tender process.
Managing communications for a large electorate requires careful planning, accurate data handling and a dependable print partner capable of meeting strict legislative deadlines, and in early 2024, Kirklees Council’s Electoral Services team were looking to replace their long-term supplier.
Kirklees had worked with their previous print supplier for approximately 15 years, meaning the transition to a new partner represented a significant change. The council therefore required a supplier capable of demonstrating a clear understanding of electoral processes, delivering reliable services under pressure and providing responsive support throughout busy election periods.
Crucially, the Electoral Services team don’t simply send bulk annual messaging, but their requirement also consisted of everyday communications. This regularly varies in style and format, as well as their dispatch and delivery needs.
The work went to tender, with Kirklees leading a procurement exercise to facilitate the sourcing of a new supplier. Alignment with the council’s social value priorities and environmental commitments was an important consideration during this process, which was overseen by the council’s Electoral Services Manager.
Kirklees Council appointed CFH following a competitive tender process involving several bidders, with CFH’s proposal standing out by demonstrating a clear understanding of the operational realities faced by electoral services teams.
Rather than presenting a traditional print supplier response, the tender reflected the pressures associated with election delivery, including strict statutory timelines, complex data requirements and the logistical challenges of producing large volumes of electoral materials at short notice.
By outlining how CFH’s services could support internal teams and reduce operational pressure, the proposal achieved the highest scores across several evaluation criteria. Social value also played a key role within the procurement process. CFH were able to demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability, community support and responsible service delivery, aligning closely with Kirklees Council’s broader priorities.
Prior to the partnership beginning, Kirklees’ Electoral Services Manager was already familiar with CFH Senior Business Development Manager and elections expert Nicki Newburn, having worked with her during previous roles at other authorities. This existing professional relationship provided a strong foundation of trust and understanding from the outset, making the transition seamless.
It was agreed that CFH Managed would be the solution to utilise. The fully managed communication offering provides councils with an IT led digital print solution that empowers them to send communications on time and from a secure facility. With a focus on outcome-driven communications, Kirklees’ outbound communications would be managed by the in-house team of Account Managers at CFH and backed by a completely seamless workflow.
Shortly after the contract began, Kirklees were required to deliver a by-election and local council elections. Just two days into onboarding and with tight deadlines approaching, CFH stepped in quickly to provide guidance and support. This required the structured production of postal vote packs, poll cards and other essential election communications.
During this period, Nicki and fellow CFH Electoral Specialist Liz Philpot attended on-site to provide support, ensuring processes ran smoothly while strengthening the working relationship. Following this successful delivery period, the Kirklees team highlighted the team’s approachable and supportive nature, noting that the team acted as a sounding board during complex preparations.
Aside from the core communication offering, a notable strength of the partnership has been CFH’s willingness to support the council beyond standard election printing. In addition to the electoral output, the team have assisted with supplementary communications when required.
Additional communication tasks have including producing and dispatching a 56,000-letter mailing following ward boundary changes and providing additional support when the council’s internal print facilities were unable to meet demand. This extra support hasn’t simply been limited to the electoral team either. CFH have endeavoured to assist other teams throughout the council, supporting other departments such as the housing department on occasion.
Alongside operational support, social value commitments have also formed an important part of the collaboration. As part of the procurement agreement, CFH committed to initiatives aligned with Kirklees Council’s priorities around sustainability and community engagement. These initiatives have included providing resources to local organisations supporting tree planting projects.
Since the partnership began, CFH have delivered consistently for Kirklees Council, providing reliable support during time-critical election periods. Serving an electorate of approximately 318,000 and producing around 52,000 postal vote packs represents a significant operational task, delivered with efficiency and precision.
The transition to CFH has been viewed positively by the Electoral Services team, with feedback highlighting strong print quality, good value for money and dependable service delivery. Clear communication and responsive support have ensured that electoral deadlines are met while providing reassurance during busy periods.
Looking ahead, both teams have established detailed timelines for future elections, including agreed data submission deadlines, proofing stages and dispatch schedules. CFH have also worked closely with the council to plan for potential fluctuations in postal vote volumes. Social initiatives have also delivered tangible benefits to the local community, contributing thousands of pounds in social value.
Reflecting on the partnership, Kirklees Council’s Electoral Services Manager emphasised the value of having a trusted supplier with genuine election experience available whenever support is required, providing reassurance that the council’s communications are in safe hands during the most demanding election periods. This bodes well for the future as CFH and Kirklees prepare for upcoming election periods.
Moving from a supplier we’d worked with for many years could have been difficult, but the transition to CFH was seamless. Within days we were delivering a by-election, and the team were supportive from the start. It never felt like working with a print supplier - it felt like working with people who genuinely understand the pressures of elections.
Electoral Services Manager,
Kirklees Council