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Framework Agreement for the Provision of Employability Services

The Highland Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

12 Aug 2026 at 08:56

Award Notice
Tender

28 Oct 2025 at 16:59

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Highland Council created a framework for employability support services across Highland communities, addressing local economic challenges through flexible and potentially innovative provision. The requirement falls within education, training and employability services. It may suit organisations delivering employment support, vocational training, skills development, personal development, community-based programmes, health and wellbeing support, or specialist routes into work. Delivery is across the Highlands, with the council based in Inverness. The awarded supplier group included national and regional charities, social enterprises, colleges, community organisations, training providers and specialist businesses, including UHI North, West and Hebrides, Youth Highland, Kooth Digital Health, Change Mental Health, Impact Arts, Barnardo’s, New Start Highland and Triage Central. This indicates a broad, partnership-friendly service scope rather than a single conventional training contract.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through one framework lot under an open procedure. The award was made on 27 November 2025 to 33 suppliers, including STEMRAN LIMITED, Social Enterprise Academy, UHI North, West and Hebrides, Youth Highland, Kooth Digital Health Limited, Calman Trust Ltd, Change Mental Health Ltd, Impact Arts, Barnardo’s and other named providers. The associated active contract was signed on 1 March 2026 and is valued at £10,000,000. The planned framework period is 1,440 days, initially 24 months with an option to extend by a further 24 months. The lot itself is recorded as cancelled, while the award and contract are active. Evaluation weighted service delivery methodology 40%, resources and planning 30%, programme management and performance 20%, fair work practices 5%, environmental wellbeing 5% and price 20%.

This procurement demonstrates demand for a wide, place-based employability offer in the Highlands, with opportunities suited to organisations that can design and deliver practical routes into work for people facing different economic or personal barriers. Credible competitors would need a clear service delivery methodology, strong resource and workforce planning, reliable programme management, and evidence of measuring performance and outcomes. Fair work practices and environmental wellbeing were explicit quality considerations, alongside price. The supplier group shows that the requirement can be met by large providers, SMEs, charities, social enterprises, colleges, community organisations and specialist practitioners. Relevant strengths include employability advice, vocational or adult learning, youth work, mental health support, digital delivery, creative or outdoor activities, enterprise development and local community engagement. Local reach across Highland communities and the ability to collaborate within a multi-provider framework would be important.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Employability Services

Notice Description

The creation of an Employability Support Services Framework aims to provide the flexibility to create innovative solutions to address the distinct economic challenges within Highland communities. Please refer to the ITT documents for full details.

Lot Information

Lot 1

A number of key policy drivers influence the design and delivery of Employability Services across the Highlands. The creation of an Employability Support Services Framework aims to provide the flexibility to create innovative solutions to address the distinct economic challenges within Highland communities. Please refer to the ITT documentation for the full details.

Renewal: 24 months initially, with an option to extend for a further 24 months - please see documentation for further information.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d5b1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076484-2026
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

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
27 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Mar 20265 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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The Highland 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
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV3 5NX
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness West
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
33
Supplier Names

Aban Outdoor Ltd.

Apex Scotland

Barnardo's

Calman Trust Ltd

Centred(Scotland)

Change Mental Health Ltd

ENABLE Scotland (leading the Way)

Emspired

Farmer Jones Academy c.i.c

Flip of The Coin SCIO

Glachbeg Croft Ltd

Glow impact CIC

Highland Thrive CIC

IRL Education CIC

Impact Arts

Kooth Digital Health Limited

Laura Lodahl Personal Development Coaching

Lead Scotland

Merkinch Partnership

Mhor Collective

Nairn River Enterprise (Green Hive)

New Start Highland

Perfect Patter Ltd

Runours Beauty School

STEMRAN LIMITED

Salvation Army Trustee Company(The)

Social Enterprise Academy

Street League

The CV Guru

Thurso community cafe

Triage Central Limited

UHI North, West and Hebrides

Youth Highland

Further Information

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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