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Skills for Growth Light Touch Open Framework

Devon County Council

This public procurement record has 8 releases in its history.

Award

02 Oct 2026 at 15:10

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

01 Jul 2026 at 14:45

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

13 Mar 2026 at 15:49

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

17 Feb 2026 at 17:38

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
PlanningUpdate

17 Dec 2025 at 18:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

17 Dec 2025 at 17:31

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

17 Dec 2025 at 15:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

16 Dec 2025 at 10:42

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Devon County Council has established an open framework for skills training and education services supporting adult employment and career progression, employer skills needs and economic growth. Provision is divided into three areas: Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs; Skills Bootcamps; and future skills projects. Programmes may be funded through those schemes or other future skills initiatives aligned with local and national workforce needs. The framework covers a shared range of sectors and geographical areas across all three areas, with delivery in Devon. Devon County Council is the buyer; the framework can also be used by the Devon and Torbay Combined Authority, Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council. The services include adult education, higher education and vocational training (CPV 80500000).

The procurement is complete and the framework contracts have been signed. Awards were made on 26 June 2026 and signed on 13 July 2026. Lot 1, Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs, was awarded to 50 providers for £75 million; Lot 2, Skills Bootcamps, to 54 providers for £35 million; and Lot 3, Future Skills Projects, to 50 providers for £10 million. Each framework runs from 14 July 2026 to 13 July 2029, with an option to extend for two years. The open procedure used a framework with further competition for call-off contracts; individual call-off values are not guaranteed, and pricing is determined at call-off. Quality accounted for 100% of the stated evaluation criteria on each lot. SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises were considered suitable for all three lots.

This framework demonstrates substantial, multi-year demand for adult skills provision across Devon, spanning funded adult education and employment courses, Skills Bootcamps and other future-skills projects. It is relevant to training providers, colleges and specialist education organisations able to deliver provision across applicable sectors and geographical areas, and to respond to further competitions for specific call-offs. The framework admitted a broad mix of providers, including small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so suppliers of different sizes can be credible where their offer fits the relevant provision. A competitive future entrant would need to make a strong, evidence-based quality case: quality was the sole stated award criterion. Delivery capability should connect adult learning and practical skills development to sustainable employment, career progression and employers’ workforce requirements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Skills for Growth Light Touch Open Framework

Notice Description

Devon County Council (DCC) intends to establish an Open Framework for commissioning the delivery of high-quality skills provision services. The Framework will support the delivery of programmes funded through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ), Skills Bootcamps, and other future skills initiatives aligned with local and national workforce needs. The Framework is divided into Lots based on the different programme types. They are: * Lot 1 - Adult Skills Fund (ASF) and Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) * Lot 2 - Skills Bootcamps * Lot 3 - Future Skills Projects The Framework includes a single common set of sectors and geographical areas which applies across all 3 Lots. The purpose of the Framework is to enable flexible and responsive skills provision that supports adults to develop the skills needed for sustainable employment and career progression, while also meeting employer demand and contributing to economic growth. DCC may initiate Call-Offs from both Lot 1 - ASF and FCFJ and Lot 2 Skills Bootcamps for Wave 7 Skills Bootcamp following the appointment of Providers to the Framework. Any contract value published within this notice are estimated total contract values provided strictly for information only and are subject to confirmation of funding. Value may be revised up or down. There is no guarantee of business or award of call-off contract.

Lot Information

Adult Skills Fund(ASF) and Free Courses For Jobs (FCFJ)

Renewal: There is an option to extend the Open Framework for a further 2 years. The Open Framework including all schemes established under it is expected to operate for up to 5 years.

Skills Bootcamp

Renewal: There is an option to extend the Open Framework for a further 2 years. The Open Framework including all schemes established under it is expected to operate for up to 5 years.

Future Skills Projects

Renewal: There is an option to extend the Open Framework for a further 2 years. The Open Framework including all schemes established under it is expected to operate for up to 5 years.

Planning Information

To inform the service provision approach Devon County Council will be undertaking a questionnaire for prospective bidders. The questionnaire will be supported by a Virtual event via Microsoft Teams event on 13th January 2026 at 10 am where further discussion on the Authorities requirement will be discussed. The submission deadline for the questionnaire is 12 noon 20th January 2026. We want to hear from suppliers, draw on your expertise, and encourage ideas, innovation, and alternative approaches to ensure the specification, tender process, and final contract are effective and attractive. The opportunity (questionnaire and link to join the virtual event) can be accessed on the SupplyingtheSouthwest portal using the following link. https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=570c7e8a-a6d9-f011-813c-005056b64545&fromRfxSummary=True&rfxId=5153a377-b0d9-f011-813c-005056b64545 Click on the link and then you can express an interest in this opportunity by clicking the green button "Login and register interest in this opportunity". Once you have expressed an interest the system will automatically allow you access to the project documentation that will be stored within "My Activities" in your account on the system. The Authority will make available all relevant information from this event and questionnaire as part of the publication of the ITT.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f667
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093449-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

80300000 - Higher education services

80400000 - Adult and other education services

80500000 - Training services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£120,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£120,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
£120,000,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
£120,000,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
13 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
9 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
26 Jun 20264 months ago
Contract Period
14 Jul 2026 - 13 Jul 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Devon County 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
EXETER,
Postcode
EX2 4QD
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
TLK4 Devon
Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Newtown and St Leonard's
Westminster Constituency
Exeter

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
68
Supplier Names

3D 360 LIMITED

AIM 2 LEARN LTD

Apricot Centre CIC

Aspire Sporting Academy Ltd

BACK TO WORK TRAINING LIMITED

Blue Sky Assessing

Bournemouth Churches Housing Association

CENIT COLLEGE UK LIMITED

CoLab Exeter Limited

Complete Training (Devon) Ltd

Cornwall College(Bicton College)

PROJECT COSMIC

COMMUNITY TRAINING PORTAL LIMITED

Digital Peninsula Network Ltd

EAT THAT FROG C.I.C.

Educ8 Training Group Ltd

Engage Train Support Limited

Exeter College

Future Connect Training and Recruitment Ltd

Gloucestershire College

I & F LIMITED

IUNGO SOLUTIONS LIMITED

JBC SKILLS TRAINING LIMITED

KIWI & YUZU LTD

Just IT Training Limited

M2HSE TRAINING LIMITED

MINDHUG LTD

OPEN DOORS INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL

Optimise Cyber Solutions Ltd

PATRONUS SECURITY UK LIMITED

PETER SMYTHE TRANSPORT TRAINING LIMITED

PGL TRAINING (PLUMBING) LIMITED

Plymouth City Council

PRIMED TALENT LIMITED

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SOLUTIONS LIMITED

Shoots Training Limited

Skern Lodge Ltd

SKILLS-UK, EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED

Somerset Skills & Learning CIC

South Devon College

STEMRAN LIMITED

Step Ahead Social Enterprise Community Interest Company

Teach Vocation Group Ltd

Tech Educators

Tempus Training

The Construction Skills People Ltd

THE CURIOUS LOUNGE C.I.C.

The Skills Network

THINK EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

Twin Training International Ltd

Weston College

Young Devon

Accountancy Learning

Bluescreen IT

City College Plymouth

Ellisons Commercial Training

House Builder XL Ltd

I N F I N I T Y 27 LTD.

SOUTH WEST ASSOCIATION OF TRAINING PROVIDERS LIMITED

The International Education Group

The Skills and Business Hub Limited

University of the West of England, Bristol

YTKO

COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF DEVON

Devon & Cornwall Training Providers Network

I CAN DO THAT! COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY

Studio Zao Innovations Ltd.

WELLBEING WORKSHOPS DEVON CIC

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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