Award

Level 7 Qualification Bursaries 2025

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

28 Aug 2025 at 10:31

Award

13 Aug 2025 at 11:18

Award

28 Jul 2025 at 07:08

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process, initiated by the Department for Education in the United Kingdom, focuses on the Level 7 Qualification Bursaries 2025. This contract, awarded through a direct procurement method, involves funding the CIPFA Level 7 Diploma in collaboration with the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL). The procurement process is in the award and contract stage, with the contract being signed on 28th August 2025 for services in the education and training category. The strategic objective is to increase the number of bursaries from 58 to 72 for the 2025/26 period, covering 75% of course costs, targeted at schools with budget deficits. The contract period extends from 1st September 2025 to 25th April 2027, with a renewal option up to 2028.

This procurement offers substantial opportunities for businesses involved in educational services, particularly those focused on financial and operational training for school professionals. The tender has been directly awarded to ISBL Trading Ltd, the only supplier capable of providing the specific qualifications due to technical reasons, thus presenting a unique opportunity for firms specialising in bespoke educational services to partner or innovate aligned offerings. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that can demonstrate added value in educational resource optimisation or possess strong affiliations with education bodies may find additional opportunities for collaboration or growth in this sector.

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Notice Title

Level 7 Qualification Bursaries 2025

Notice Description

This procurement proposal seeks to continue funding the CIPFA Level 7 Diploma, developed in partnership with the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL), aimed at supporting School Business Professionals (SBPs) through targeted bursaries. For the 2025/26 period, the number of bursaries will increase from 58 to 72, covering 75% of the course costs. This expansion responds to strong demand--evidenced by 105 expressions of interest--and consistently positive participant feedback. The bursaries are specifically directed at SBPs working in schools with budget deficits or limited CPD (Continuing Professional Development) resources, across all educational sectors.

Procurement Information

Justification for using a direct award under PA 2023: What is the legal framework that governs direct award? 3. competitive tendering procedure is the default for most public procurements. A contracting authority may only directly award a public contract when section 41 (and one or more of the justifications in Schedule 5) A Schedule 5: Direct award justifications-Single suppliers 25. The final justification is where, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons and provided there are no reasonable alternatives, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works require. Justification: ISBL in partnership with CIPFA are the only supplier to offer this qualification

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05669e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051868-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80500000 - Training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£163,296 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£164,700 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Aug 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
28 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2025 - 25 Apr 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
core.procurement@education.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ISBL TRADING

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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