This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

06 Mar 2026 at 15:12

Planning

21 Oct 2025 at 10:44

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by APUC Limited concerns the tender for "Executive and Senior Specialist Search and Associated Recruitment Services," focusing on recruitment services in the higher and further education sectors across Scotland and potentially broader UK institutions. This active tender stage, identified under project code PFB1048 AP, is open and follows the open procedure method. The deadline for tender submissions is scheduled for 13 April 2026. The procurement covers regions throughout the UK, categorising primarily under recruitment services and anticipating a substantial contract value of £12,000,000. Community benefits, such as executive mentoring and strategic recruitment workshops, are anticipated to be integral components of this procurement. APUC Limited operates from Stirling, UK, with Graeme Kerr as the contact point.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in recruitment services, particularly those adept in executive search, succession planning, and bias reduction training. Suitable businesses would benefit from healthy competition among numerous educational institutions across the UK, broadening their influence in both the public sector and further educational markets. Companies with capabilities in strategic recruitment, eLearning modules, and pro bono board support will find ample engagement prospects, enhancing their portfolio and fostering robust partnerships with public institutions. With the requirement to appoint multiple contractors within specific lots, varied opportunities exist to cater to both regional requirements in Scotland and wider roles throughout the UK, delivering diverse business growth potential.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Executive and Senior Specialist Search and Associated Recruitment Services

Notice Description

The Authority is seeking Contractor(s) for the provision of Executive and Senior Specialist Search and Associated Recruitment Services to the higher education (HE) institutions and further education (FE) institutions (and affiliated bodies) in Scotland. A list of the Institutions can be found in Appendix E. In addition, the following purchasing consortia and their respective members have agreed in principle to participate in the Framework Agreement: London Universities Purchasing Consortium and its members (LUPC) - Lots 3, 5 and 6 only North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium and its members (NWUPC) Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium its members (SUPC) - Lot 6 only NHS National Procurement and its members Healthcare Improvement Scotland NHS Education for Scotland NHS Golden Jubilee NHS24 Scotland Excel and its members Scottish Ambulance Service Scottish Government The State Hospitals Board for Scotland The framework agreement will be available for use by the Scottish Ministers (including Agencies), Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies, offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices, cross-border public authorities within the meaning of section 88(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, The Office for the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, councils constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, , bodies registered as social landlords under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, Scottish health boards or special health boards, Student Loans Company Limited, the Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse operating as the Northern Lighthouse Board, Scottish Futures Trust, Equality and Human Rights Commission, Business Stream Ltd, the Business Gateway National Unit at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, further or higher education institutions being fundable bodies within the meaning of section 6 of the further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament, any association of or formed by one or more of the foregoing, bodies financed wholly or mainly by one or more of the foregoing, bodies subject to management supervision by one or more of the foregoing and bodies more than half of the board of directors or members of which, or, in the case of a group of individuals, more than half of those individuals, being appointed by one or more of the foregoing. In addition to the contracting authorities listed, the framework agreement will be available to charities entered on the Scottish Charity Register and voluntary organisations entered on the Membership Database of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Information about agencies of the Scottish Ministers, Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies and offices in the Scottish Administration which are not ministerial offices are listed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/about/Bodies Overview of the governance structure of public procurement for Scotland, including the Public Procurement Group. https://www.gov.scot/publications/public-procurement-governance/

Lot Information

Recruitment related services

This lot is for recruitment related services to support the recruitment activities of the institutions. The activities that may be included would be: Succession planning Board reviews Salary and remuneration benchmarking Skills audit Candidate market scoping Panel training Unconscious bias training Access to Recruitment Technology. The pricing for this would be on an hourly, half day and day rate basis however fixed fees may be agreed on call off for a prescribed piece of work before this work is conducted. The Authority is seeking to appoint a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 Contractors to service this lot. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions requirements

Executive Search - North

This Lot relates to the provision of search and selection services for executive roles based in Scotland and the areas represented by NWUPC, including Northern Ireland. The Contractor shall be responsible for identifying, assessing, and presenting suitably qualified candidates in accordance with the Authority's requirements. The Authority is seeking to appoint a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 Contractors to service this Lot. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions requirements

Executive Search - South

This Lot relates to the provision of search and selection services for executive roles based in England and the areas represented by LUPC. The Contractor shall be responsible for identifying, assessing, and presenting suitably qualified candidates in accordance with the Authority's requirements. The Authority is seeking to appoint a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 Contractors to service this Lot. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions requirements

Senior Specialist Search - North

This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for senior specialist level roles based in Scotland and the areas represented by NWUPC, including Northern Ireland. The Contractor shall be responsible for identifying, assessing, and presenting suitably qualified candidates in accordance with the Authority's requirements. The Authority is seeking to appoint a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 Contractors to service each of these lots. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions requirements

Senior Specialist Search - South

This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for senior specialist level roles based in England and the areas represented by LUPC. The Contractor shall be responsible for identifying, assessing, and presenting suitably qualified candidates in accordance with the Authority's requirements. The Authority is seeking to appoint a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 Contractors to service each of these lots. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions requirements

Chairs of Court and members of governing committees and boards

This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for Chairs and members of governing committees and board roles based in the UK. The Authority is seeking to appoint a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 Contractors to service each of these lots. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Renewal: The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions requirements

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d080
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020525-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£12,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Mar 20265 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
15 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
June 2030

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
APUC Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STIRLING
Postcode
FK8 2DZ
Postcode Area
Falkirk and Stirling
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM0 Eastern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM02 Perth and Kinross, and Stirling
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Stirling
Electoral Ward
Stirling East
Westminster Constituency
Stirling and Strathallan

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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