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U18 Whyte Review Consultation

THE UNITED KINGDOM SPORTS COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

22 Jul 2026 at 11:42

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
TenderUpdate

30 May 2025 at 10:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

29 May 2025 at 14:53

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The United Kingdom Sports Council commissioned a research and consultation project on the experiences of athletes who competed in the highest levels of international sport while under 18. The work examines youth participation, safeguarding and welfare, risks, support arrangements, training commitments and experiences across Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and other major competitions. It includes current and retired athletes, families and support staff, with particular attention to early-specialisation sports such as aquatics, gymnastics, skiing, snowboarding and skateboarding. The selected supplier is expected to establish an evidence base, identify stakeholders, design and deliver a consultation centred on young athletes, and produce findings with policy recommendations. The research and related consultancy services are delivered in the United Kingdom for UK Sport.

This below-threshold procurement was awarded following an open competition. Leeds Beckett University was selected on 6 July 2026, and the contract was signed for £42,115 excluding VAT (£50,538 including VAT). The contract runs from 22 July 2026 to 31 May 2027. The earlier tender estimated the requirement at £41,667 excluding VAT (£50,000 including VAT), with an initial contract period from 1 August 2025 to 31 March 2026 and a possible extension to 31 July 2026. Bids were evaluated on value for money at 25%, quality at 50%, and EDI, sustainability and added value at 25%. Quality covered understanding, technical expertise, relevant experience, reporting and project management. The lot and award are complete, while the contract is active.

This award indicates demand from UK Sport for research-led consultancy combining qualitative consultation, policy analysis and safeguarding expertise. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable experience interviewing children and young people about sensitive subjects, with robust safeguarding arrangements and participant welfare at the centre of the methodology. Relevant capability includes engaging current and former athletes, families and support staff; reaching participants who may not respond to conventional surveys; and comparing experiences across Olympic and Paralympic sports, demographics, competitions and early-specialisation disciplines. Suppliers should also understand elite and professional sporting environments, anti-doping support, athlete availability and the wider safe-sport landscape. Strong bids would show how evidence can be translated into practical risk mitigation, support recommendations and clear reporting, while avoiding duplication with existing reviews and programmes.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

U18 Whyte Review Consultation

Notice Description

The purpose of this consultation is to examine the breadth and experience of youth participation in the highest levels of elite international sport, and to make policy recommendations to ensure their safeguarding and welfare remains paramount. reas for consultation should include: * The breadth of athletes for which competing in senior top level international sport as a minor, is commonplace. * For the purposes of this project, we are looking to explore athlete's experiences at, but not limited to, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cups/Championships, European Championships, overseas training camps. * The current measures in place to support and protect these individuals as they engage with such experiences. * Identification of key risks * Recommendations for risk mitigation and potential levels of support which should be put in place. * The level of time commitment to training to compete at international competition and for participation on their World Class Programme. Methodology Whilst there is not a fixed view on the methodology which should be used, a solely quantitative approach is unlikely to provide the richness of insight required. Therefore, we would expect qualitative methods to be deployed either solely or as part of a mixed methods approach. We welcome suggestions on the optimal approach to this project. Sample We anticipate the research will explore the experiences of those competing whilst U18 (both current and retired), their families and support staff, with a focus on early specialisation sports (e.g. Aquatics, Gymnastics, Ski & Snowboard, Skateboarding). * Differences across Olympic and Paralympic sports * Any circumstances which may increase an athlete's risk e.g. family circumstances. * Any differences within demographics * Experience at international competitions * Are experiences at competition with anti-doping as expected and sufficiently supported? * Cost implications of widening this research to U25s. * Alignment with UK Sport's Safe Sport Project - undertaken by an independent project lead, to consult partners and set out recommendations on how we - as a system- could fundamentally reshape the culture, functions and services underpinning the provision of safe sport in the future. The selected supplier will be expected to align with the findings from this work to ensure no duplication of work and to understand the landscape of work which has taken place. Risks: Appointed supplier needs to have demonstrable experience in interviewing young people and dealing with sensitive topics with a clear understanding that the safeguarding of the research participants is top priority. Athlete recruitment: we welcome innovative suggestions on how we may engage with our athletes to ensure the optimum breadth of insight, especially those who may not engage with traditional survey methods. Key Deliverables: * Establish a relevant body of evidence, taking into consideration the professional sporting landscape alongside Olympic and Paralympic sports. * Identify key source information required and stakeholder groups for consultation * Design and deliver an appropriate consultation process, with the youth athlete voice at the heart and detail of the optimal engagement strategy for this cohort. * Deliver a report of findings with policy recommendations. Timeframe This research is related to the Whyte Review recommendations and therefore is a priority piece of work.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Extension could be made if there are delays due to athlete availability for consultation or if identified from the outset that a supplier requires additional time

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0528f4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069085-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£41,667 Under £100K
Lots Value
£41,667 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£42,115 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
30 Jun 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
22 Jul 2026 - 31 May 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE UNITED KINGDOM SPORTS COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4PU
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Leeds Beckett University

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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