Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Executive Mayor's Employment Fund (MEF)

London Borough of Croydon

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

30 Jul 2026 at 11:46

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

30 Jul 2026 at 11:30

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

10 Dec 2025 at 11:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Croydon is commissioning employment, training and progression services through the Executive Mayor’s Employment Fund. The work will support Croydon residents into employment, apprenticeships, training and better work, with targeted help for people facing barriers to opportunity. Services cover youth provision for 16–24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training or risk disengagement; specialist support for care-experienced young people aged 16–25; holistic employment support for adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness; and employment support for veterans, reservists and their partners. Delivery is in Croydon. The requirement is for employment support, recruitment, personnel placement and vocational training services. It is divided into eight sub-lots covering youth, care experience, homelessness and veterans support.

The procurement has reached tender: the council invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission allowed in English. Enquiries were due by 27 August 2026 at 17:00, and tenders by 11 September 2026 at 12:00. The award decision was scheduled for 23 October 2026. Contracts are planned from 19 November 2026 to 18 November 2027, with a possible 12-month extension to 18 November 2028. The total estimated value is £950,000 excluding VAT (£1,140,000 including VAT). Individual sub-lot values range from £100,000 to £150,000 excluding VAT. Bidders may bid for up to seven sub-lots, but may receive only one contract as sole or lead provider, plus one as a named partner or subcontractor. Evaluation is 65% quality, 25% price and 10% social value. Economic and technical selection requirements apply.

This opportunity suits employment, skills, recruitment, vocational training and specialist support providers able to deliver measurable progression into work, apprenticeships, education or training. Relevant strengths include intensive youth employment support, re-engagement of people not in education, employment or training, trauma-informed work with care-experienced young people, and flexible support for people whose homelessness, health or housing circumstances affect their route into work. Providers with expertise in translating military experience into civilian careers will suit the veterans strand. The requirement also favours organisations able to deliver culturally competent, evidence-based and place-based services, build trust with residents facing multiple barriers, and work collaboratively with voluntary and community partners. Each sub-lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Capacity to act as a sole or lead provider, named partner or subcontractor is relevant.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Executive Mayor's Employment Fund (MEF)

Notice Description

Croydon continues to experience above-average unemployment and persistent economic inactivity, despite being home to one of the largest working-age populations in London. The borough's labour market is characterised by high youth unemployment in certain wards, concentrations of low-paid and insecure work, a significant proportion of residents with long-term health conditions, and marked inequalities in access to opportunity by geography, ethnicity, gender and disability. The MEF has been designed to respond to these challenges by investing in programmes that help residents to move into, remain in and progress within good work. The Fund is aligned with the Council's emerging Employment and Skills Plan and Adult Education Skills Plan, which set out a long-term strategy for mapping the journey from learning to earning, identifying gaps in progression, and strengthening cross-sector partnerships to reduce economic inactivity and improve access to training, qualifications and meaningful work. The MEF also supports the Mayor's Business Plan Outcome 2, which is that Croydon should be a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning. The purpose of the MEF is to support Croydon residents into work, apprenticeships, training or progression opportunities; to provide targeted, culturally competent, evidence-based interventions for residents facing multiple barriers; to strengthen the role of voluntary and community sector partners and specialist providers in employment support; to build collaborative, place-based delivery models; and to ensure that resources reach those most in need, driving measurable improvements in employability, stability and progression. The Fund will be procured across 4 lots: youth provision for 16-24-year-olds; specialist support for care experienced young people; tailored employment support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness; targeted provision for veterans and their families; and a small grants and community events strand to support community-led engagement and progression activities. Allocations are currently expected to be approximately PS175,000 for youth, PS75,000 for care experienced young people, PS175,000 for homelessness, PS50,000 for veterans, although these values remain indicative and may be refined prior to contract award. The Lot 1 Youth Provision is divided in 3 sub-lots Sub Lot 1a PS50,000 pa Sub Lot 1b PS50,000 pa Sub Lot 1c PS75,000 pa The Lot 2 is Care Experience Young People is PS75,000 pa The Lot 3 Homelessness Supports is divided in 3 sub-lots Sub Lot 3a PS50,000 pa Sub Lot 3b PS50,000 pa Sub Lot 3c PS75,000 pa The Lot 4 Veterans Support isPS 50000 pa. Bidders can only be awarded a maximum of one contract as sole or lead provider and one additional contract as a named partner or sub-contractor This opportunity is available on the Croydon Tenders Portal. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/croydontenders/aspx/Login

Lot Information

Sub-Lot 1a Youth Provision

Sub-lot 1 a Youth Provision (16-24 years old) - Intensive, youth-focused employment support for 16-24-year-olds in Croydon who are NEET or at risk of disengagement. Purpose: help young people become work-ready, reconnect with learning, and secure jobs/apprenticeships/training.

Renewal: 12 months extension

Sub Lot 1b Youth Provision

Sub-lot 1 b Youth Provision (16-24 years old) - Intensive, youth-focused employment support for 16-24-year-olds in Croydon who are NEET or at risk of disengagement. Purpose: help young people become work-ready, reconnect with learning, and secure jobs/apprenticeships/training.

Renewal: 12 months extension

Sub-Lot 1c Youth Provision

Sub-lot 1 c Youth Provision (16-24 years old) - Intensive, youth-focused employment support for 16-24-year-olds in Croydon who are NEET or at risk of disengagement. Purpose: help young people become work-ready, reconnect with learning, and secure jobs/apprenticeships/training.

Renewal: 12 months extension

Lot 2 : Care Experienced Young People (CEYP)

Lot2: Care Experienced Young People (CEYP) - Specialist, trauma-informed employment support for care experienced young people aged 16-25. Purpose: build trust, develop skills, reconnect with education, and secure jobs/apprenticeships/training.

Renewal: 12 months extension

Sub-Lot 3a Homelessness Support

Sub-lot 3a Homelessness Support - Flexible, holistic employment support for adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Purpose: improve stability, build confidence, and progress towards work/training without jeopardizing housing or health.

Renewal: 12 months extension

Sub-Lot 3b Homelessness Support

Sub-lot 3 b Homelessness Support -Flexible, holistic employment support for adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Purpose: improve stability, build confidence, and progress towards work/training without jeopardizing housing or health.

Renewal: 12 months extension

Sub-Lot 3c Homelessness Support

Sub-lot 3c Homelessness Support - Flexible, holistic employment support for adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Purpose: improve stability, build confidence, and progress towards work/training without jeopardizing housing or health.

Renewal: 12 months extension

Lot 4 Veterans Support

Lot 4 Veterans Support - Targeted employment and progression support for armed forces veterans, reservists, and partners. Purpose: translate military skills into civilian careers and address service-related barriers.

Renewal: 12 months extension

Planning Information

We are pleased to invite you to attend a Provider and Community Briefing on the Mayor’s Employment Fund (MEF), taking place on Wednesday 17th December 2025 from 10:30 to 12:00. The session will be held at Bernard Weatherill House – please report to Corporate Reception just before 10:20, where colleagues will meet you and escort you to the meeting room. If you wish to attend this event please email Marlon.Bruce@Croydon.gov.uk by Friday 12th December 2025, so we can finalise arrangements and refreshments. This important briefing will introduce the Mayor’s Employment Fund, a £500,000 investment designed to support Croydon residents into training, employment and skills development through collaboration with our voluntary, community and specialist delivery partners. The session will run for 90 minutes and will cover: • Welcome and introduction from Mayor Jason Perry • Overview of the Mayor’s Employment Fund • Funding priorities and commissioning timeline • How local organisations can apply and collaborate • Q&A and discussion This event will be an opportunity to hear directly about the Council’s new commissioning-led approach, understand how the MEF will support residents into sustainable employment. We look forward to welcoming you to this important session as we work together to strengthen Croydon’s employment and skills landscape and ensure our communities benefit from inclusive growth.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f291
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072104-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

79414000 - Human resources management consultancy services

79600000 - Recruitment services

79610000 - Placement services of personnel

80530000 - Vocational training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£950,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£950,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
11 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
19 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Nov 2026 - 18 Nov 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
London Borough of Croydon
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CROYDON
Postcode
CR0 1EA
Postcode Area
Croydon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI6 Outer London - South
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI62 Croydon
Delivery Location
TLI62 Croydon
Local Authority
Croydon
Electoral Ward
Fairfield
Westminster Constituency
Croydon West

Further Information

Notice Documents

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.

Loading OCDS record...