Planning

Employability Support Programme C008/2025/2026 Market Engagement 2

LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Planning

21 Jan 2026 at 15:23

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 Oct 2025 at 10:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 May 2025 at 12:16

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Welsh Government is currently in the planning stage of the Employability Support Programme, aimed at delivering education and training services across Wales. Representing a collaborative procurement effort, this programme focuses on enhancing employability skills, particularly targeting those disadvantaged in the labour market. This opportunity is being led by the Corporate Procurement Services of the Welsh Government in Cardiff, under the regulations of the Welsh devolved government. A preliminary market engagement exercise is scheduled to conclude by 18 February 2026, and a related webinar event is to take place on 13 February 2026. This exercise will provide additional strategic and procedural clarity to stakeholders before formalising the tender scheduled for a later date. The process aligns with Wales's broader goals for achieving high educational and employment participation among young individuals by 2050.

Businesses operating within the education and training sector, specifically those focused on adult education, are well-placed to exploit this opportunity as it primes the local market for a unified delivery model. The programme seeks to foster partnerships and collaboration, placing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) in favourable positions to engage as consortia or through subcontracting opportunities. As the tender is expected to focus on a strategically designed and long-term contract, companies with a commitment to fostering inclusive growth and community engagement in Wales will find this process particularly beneficial for business expansion and increased market visibility.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Employability Support Programme C008/2025/2026 Market Engagement 2

Notice Description

This preliminary market engagement exercise is being run via the eTenderWales portal https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk. The e-tender references for this Market Engagement number 2 are: itt_122357 project_60454 and should be read alongside this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice published on sell2wales: Sell2Wales notice ID 160117. The Welsh Government is providing further information on the proposed procurement for the Employability Support Programme (ESP). This update builds on feedback received from stakeholders in response to the initial Preliminary Market Engagement 1 that included a Questionnaire and aims to clarify key aspects of the procurement. The purpose is to ensure transparency and support market readiness. Following extensive dialogue with stakeholders across Wales, and in the interests of openness we have published the following information, at the links provided below: * A summary of the early engagement to date, which has shaped the strategic design of employability support. * A summary of the feedback received in the Preliminary Market Engagement 1 that included a Questionnaire and further information in response to that feedback. * A directory of suppliers who have opted to share contact details, to enable suppliers to explore consortia and subcontracting partnerships ahead of the formal procurement process. https://www.gov.wales/employability-support-programme-engagement-events https://www.llyw.cymru/rhaglen-cymorth-cyflogadwyedd-digwyddiadau-ymgysylltu * Preliminary Market Engagement Notice ID=154469 and ID=160117 published on sell2wales, available on the following: Sell2Wales: Document Id:154469 Notice Id: OCT554758 OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051d9c The following sections set out the key components of this engagement: 1. Supporting subcontracting and consortia bids (a 60-minute online webinar has been arranged to take place on Friday 13 February 2026 starting at 11am. Event details, registration and joining instructions will be added to the market engagement documentation on eTenderWales once confirmed) 2. Lotting structure and allocation methodology 3. Initial and Additional Cohorts 4. Funding model, contract duration and estimated total Programme value 5. Key Tender requirements 6. Procurement timetable 7. Tender assessment approach 8. FAQs and a further opportunity to submit questions and seek clarification Please note: This engagement is for information only and does NOT form part of any tender process. Participation is voluntary and will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent tender process. The following details are shared for market awareness purposes only. The formal tender process has NOT started, and final arrangements may differ. We may amend requirements or information set out in this engagement, discontinue the process, or withdraw this engagement, or reissue it on the same or an alternative basis at any time.

Planning Information

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk- This preliminary market engagement exercise can be accessed from the eTenderWales portal, available at the following website: https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk. The e-tender references for this Market Engagement number 2 are: itt_122357 project_60454 NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this market engagement process. The first person from your Organisation to use the Platform will be required to register on behalf of the Organisation.- Registration involves accepting a User Agreement, and providing basic information about your Organisation and about the User performing the Registration.- The User who performs the Registration becomes the Super User for the Organisation.- On registering on the Platform the Super User will select a Username and will receive a password.- The Password will be sent by e-mail to the email address that was specified in the User Details section of the Registration page.- In order to log-in to the Platform please enter your Username and Password.- Note: If you forget your Password then visit the homepage and click “Forgot your password?”- Registration should only be performed once for each Organisation.- If you think that someone in your Organisation may have already registered on this Platform then you must not register again.- Please contact the person who Registered (i.e. the Super User) in order to arrange access to the Platform.- Contact the Helpdesk immediately if you are unable to contact the Super User (for example if they have left your Organisation).- Note: If your Organisation is already registered on the Platform then you must not make any additional registration. How To Find The Engagement Documentation :- Once logged in you must click on ‘PQQs/ITT’s Open to all Suppliers’- The e-tender references for this Engagement are: itt_122357 project_60454 - Employability Support Programme Market Engagement 2.- Click on the title to access summary details of the market engagement. If you are still interested in taking part in the pre-market engagement, click the ‘Express an Interest button’. This will move the PQQ/ITT market engagement from the ‘Open to all Suppliers’ area to the ‘My PQQ/ITT’s’ on the home page.- You will then see the full details of the market engagement and background information in the ‘Attachments’ area.- Should you have any questions on the documentation, clarification questions or feedback, please use the ‘Messages’ area to contact the buyer directly.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051d9c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005409-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£680,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Mar 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LLYWODRAETH CYMRU / WELSH GOVERNMENT
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
cpsprocurementadvice@gov.wales
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF10 3NQ
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
TLL Wales
Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Cathays
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff South and Penarth

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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