This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Jul 2026 at 12:22

Tender

09 Sep 2025 at 12:40

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Edinburgh has successfully completed the awarding stage of its tender for "Temporary Hospitality, Catering and Events Staff for ACE" within the services industry. This procurement process aimed to establish a framework agreement through an open procedure to source temporary staffing solutions to support the University's Accommodation, Catering and Events (ACE) services across Edinburgh (region UKM75). The project encompasses multiple lots such as "Hospitality and Events", "Domestic Services", and "Kitchen Staff," with a potential contract duration of up to four years, including possible extensions. The tender was initially active in a planning phase that began in 2025, with submissions closing on October 10, 2025, and the latest contracts were signed on July 6, 2026, marking the completion of the award stage.

This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities for staffing agencies capable of providing high-quality temporary personnel capable of meeting surges in demand. With a total framework value of £3.6 million, suppliers that can deliver a diverse range of staffing resources swiftly and efficiently are well-positioned to benefit. The procurement specifies a significant weighting towards quality in its technical evaluation criteria, appealing to businesses with robust track records in providing exceptional staffing solutions. SMEs like Navolio Limited T/A Off To Work and Brightwork, as well as larger entities such as Blue Arrow and Reed Recruitment, were selected as suppliers, illustrating the potential for businesses of varying scales to engage and thrive under this framework.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Temporary Hospitality, Catering and Events Staff for ACE

Notice Description

The University's Accommodation, Catering and Events (ACE) service operates a range of essential catering facilities that support students, staff, visitors and commercial activities across the University. To ensure continuity of these critical services, the University supplements its permanent workforce with temporary agency staff during periods of increased demand, seasonal peaks, planned events and where unforeseen staffing shortages arise. Agency workers are engaged only where the existing permanent workforce is insufficient to meet operational requirements, helping to maintain service continuity, customer experience and contractual commitments. The purpose of this procurement is to establish a Framework Agreement with suitably experienced staffing providers that have the capacity and capability to supply high-quality catering personnel at short notice, as and when required. The Framework value is indicative and non-committal. This project is looking to establish a new framework agreement with suppliers who have the resource and capacity to work with the University to provide catering staffing resources as and when required.

Lot Information

Kitchen Staff

ACE operates across the city of Edinburgh. There are multiple venues and location across this wide geographical area, where agency staff will be required to attend for work. All locations may require staff at any one date and time. The volume and type of staff required will be dependent on business needs. Historical data highlights the roles where the highest volume of staff is required are: - Head Chef - Rare but maybe required for interim periods of up to 3 months; - Chef - estimate of up to 10+ on busier days; - Kitchen Assistants - estimate 15 + on very busy days; and - Kitchen Porter - estimate of up to 5+ on busier days. Please be aware that these figures are given in good faith but may not be representative of future demand.

Options: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Renewal: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Hospitality and Events

ACE operates across the city of Edinburgh. There are multiple venues and location across this wide geographical area, where agency staff will be required to attend for work. All locations may require staff at any one date and time. The volume and type of staff required will be dependent on business needs. Historical data highlights the roles where the highest volume of staff is required are: - Catering Assistants - estimate 15+ on very busy days; and - Plate Waiters/Silver Service Staff - estimate 50+ on very busy days. Please be aware that these figures are given in good faith but may not be representative of future demand.

Options: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Renewal: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Domestic Services

ACE operates across the city of Edinburgh. There are multiple venues and location across this wide geographical area, where agency staff will be required to attend for work. All locations may require staff at any one date and time. The volume and type of staff required will be dependent on business needs. Historical data highlights the roles where the highest volume of staff is required are: - Hotel Bedroom Attendants; - Hotel Public Area Cleaners - Student Property Domestic Cleaning Staff

Options: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Renewal: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0596b2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068698-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79620000 - Supply services of personnel including temporary staff

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,600,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£3,600,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
10 Oct 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH1 1HT
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
6
Supplier Names

AXIS RECRUITMENT

BLUE ARROW

BRIGHTWORK

NAVOLIO LIMITED T/A OFF TO WORK

REED RECRUITMENT

SEARCH CONSULTANCY

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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                "measure": "foreignBidsFromNonEU",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 0
            },
            {
                "id": "9",
                "measure": "foreignBidsFromNonEU",
                "relatedLot": "2",
                "value": 0
            },
            {
                "id": "14",
                "measure": "foreignBidsFromNonEU",
                "relatedLot": "3",
                "value": 0
            },
            {
                "id": "5",
                "measure": "electronicBids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 9
            },
            {
                "id": "10",
                "measure": "electronicBids",
                "relatedLot": "2",
                "value": 13
            },
            {
                "id": "15",
                "measure": "electronicBids",
                "relatedLot": "3",
                "value": 10
            }
        ]
    }
}