Award

Southport Learning Trust ~ Catering Tender

SOUTHPORT LEARNING TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

16 Mar 2026 at 15:19

Tender

15 May 2025 at 13:05

Summary of the contracting process

The Southport Learning Trust is undertaking a public procurement process for a catering contract across several schools located in Southport and nearby areas. The contract, valued at £6.6 million over five years, is set to commence in April 2026 and allows for a two-year extension. The procurement method is an open, competitive flexible procedure targeting school catering services. Key dates include the supplier submission deadline on 9th June 2025. The process has recently transitioned from the tender stage to awarding, with Aspens Services Ltd noted as a potential supplier. Southport Learning Trust, a sub-central government public authority, is committed to collaboration, equity, sustainability, and innovation, reflecting its ambitious aspirations within the education sector.

This tender presents significant opportunities for catering companies experienced in school services, with the potential for long-term collaboration across multiple educational institutions. Business growth prospects include engaging with upcoming schools expected to join the Trust’s network over the life of the contract, providing a continuous stream of service requirements. Suitable businesses are those capable of meeting the conditions for participation and providing resources within the specified region, equipped to support the contract and handle the local government pension scheme requirements. The competitive nature of the tender process will allow suppliers to demonstrate their unique value propositions and capabilities, contributing to potential advancement in ambitions within the local educational sector.

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Notice Title

Southport Learning Trust ~ Catering Tender

Notice Description

The successful Supplier will be required to provide Catering services for Southport Learning Trust for the following schools: Birkdale High SchoolWindy Harbour Road, Southport PR8 3DT Greenbank High School13 Hastings Rd., Southport PR8 2LT Maghull High School - to join contract September 202643 Gainsborough Avenue, Liverpool L31 7AW Meols Cop High School4 Bretton Fold, Southport PR8 6JS Stanley High SchoolFleetwood Rd, Southport PR9 9TF Kew Woods PrimaryOvington Drive 30, Southport PR8 6JW Merefield School Westminster Drive, Southport, PR8 2QZ Range High School - to join contract April 2028Caretakers House Stapleton Road, Formby L37 2YN The contract will be for three years commencing April 2026 with the option to extend for a further two years Contract value = PS6.6 Million ( 5 years) excluding Range High School Expressions of interest are welcomed from organisations that can demonstrate experience in providing catering services to schools and who can provide the resource in the area to support the contract. There will be a small number of staff who are in the local government pension scheme. Admitted body status will therefore be required. Participation Stage - suppliers must meet the conditions of participation set out in this Tender Notice to advance to the tender stage of the competition and also submit a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement. The contracting authority intends to select a maximum of six suppliers to advance to the tender stage, based on the six highest scoring supplier responses to the additional questions set out in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire. The deadline for supplier submissions will be 9th June 2025. The intention would be that the 3 highest scoring companies from the tender stage will advance to presentation stage. Suppliers will not be selected to present if they would not be able to achieve an overall higher score than the top bidder if the former scored maximum marks and the latter scored no marks in the presentations. About The Trust Southport Learning Trust is an ambitious organisation with its roots in the coastal town of Southport. Each of our schools are unique beacons of aspiration in their communities, our connectivity as a Trust makes us even stronger. The Trust is growing steadily but sensibly and it is expected that additional schools will join the catering contract over the life of the contract. The Trust's core values are: Collaboration - through powerful connectivity we harness the collective excellence of the schools across our Trust to maximise the impact we have on all of our students, Equity - a commitment to overcoming all barriers ensuring all of our students excel throughout their lives, Sustainability - taking our responsibilities seriously to consistently be a self-improving system to positively impact the future generations of our communities, Innovation- through innovative thinking and the agility to respond to opportunities, our school communities will have access to powerful networks. Our desire is for strong Local Governing Bodies focused whole heartedly on improving the life chances of children supported by an experienced and diverse Trust Board as set out within the parameters of our scheme of delegation. All schools growing into our family of schools are expected to commit to our vision and values and the spirit of collaboration and professional generosity that characterises our Trust. We are determined to demonstrate that local schools, working together and growing with talented leadership and staff, can create the conditions for all our students, no matter what their starting point, to achieve the combination of skills, qualities, qualifications and aptitudes that will enable them to thrive in a complex world. We are growing as a Well School Trust ensuring we have a commitment to support the wellbeing of all members of our community.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05148b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023637-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services


CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£660,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£660,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£6,600,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
29 Aug 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Oct 20256 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTHPORT LEARNING TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHPORT
Postcode
PR8 3DT
Post Town
Preston
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD73 Sefton
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Sefton
Electoral Ward
Ainsdale
Westminster Constituency
Sefton Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ASPENS SERVICES

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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