Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Skills for Growth Light Touch Open Framework

Devon County Council

This public procurement record has 7 releases in its history.

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

The procurement process initiated by Devon County Council is focused on the "Skills for Growth Light Touch Open Framework" to commission high-quality skills provision services. This involves programmes supported by the Adult Skills Fund, Free Courses for Jobs, Skills Bootcamps, and various future skills initiatives. The framework is divided into three lots: Lot 1 for Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs, Lot 2 for Skills Bootcamps, and Lot 3 for Future Skills Projects. These address local and national workforce needs across the UK, with Exeter serving as the main procurement location. The process is in the Award stage, following an open procedure that ensures flexibility and responsiveness in skills provision, set to commence on 14 July 2026, with the option of a two-year extension post-2029.

This procurement presents substantial business growth prospects for organisations specializing in education, training, and community services, particularly those equipped to offer adult education and vocational training. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary community social enterprises are especially well-suited, given the framework's support for flexible skill acquisition methods that align with economic growth objectives. The framework calls for collaboration with various educational institutions and training providers, presenting a strategic opportunity for businesses aiming to enhance workforce skills relevant to their industry sectors. Companies engaging with this framework can contribute to addressing skill gaps and boost their service portfolio within a structured and secure public sector framework.

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/061825-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
9 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
26 Jun 20262 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
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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

ACCOUNTANCY LEARNING LTD

AIM 2 LEARN LTD

APRICOT CENTRE CIC

ASPIRE SPORTING ACADEMY LTD

BACK TO WORK TRAINING LIMITED

BLUE SCREEN IT LIMITED

BOURNEMOUTH CHURCHES HOUSING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Bicton College (CORNWALL COLLEGE FURTHER EDUCATION CORPORATION )

Blue Sky Assessing and Consultancy Ltd

CENIT COLLEGE UK LIMITED

COMMUNITY COUNCIL OF DEVON

COMMUNITY TRAINING PORTAL LIMITED

City College Plymouth

CoLab Exeter

Complete Training (Devon) Ltd

DIGITAL PENINSULA NETWORK LIMITED

Devon & Cornwall Training Providers Network

EAT THAT FROG C.I.C.

EDUC8 TRAINING GROUP LIMITED

ELLISONS COMMERCIAL TRAINING LIMITED

EXETER AND NORTH DEVON COLLEGES GROUP

Engage Train Support Limited

FUTURE CONNECT TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT LTD

Gloucestershire College

HOUSE BUILDER XL LIMITED

I & F LIMITED

I CAN DO THAT! COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY

I N F I N I T Y 27 LTD.

IUNGO SOLUTIONS LIMITED

JBC SKILLS TRAINING LIMITED

KIWI & YUZU LTD

Leep Talent 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

PRIMED TALENT LIMITED

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SOLUTIONS LIMITED

PROJECT COSMIC

Plymouth City Council

SKERN LODGE LIMITED

SKILLS-UK, EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED

SOMERSET SKILLS & LEARNING CIC

SOUTH WEST ASSOCIATION OF TRAINING PROVIDERS LIMITED

STEMRAN LIMITED

STEP AHEAD SOCIAL ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY

STUDIO ZAO INNOVATIONS LTD

Shoots Training Limited

South Devon College

TEACH VOCATION GROUP LTD

TECH EDUCATORS LTD

TEMPUS TRAINING LIMITED

THE CONSTRUCTION SKILLS PEOPLE LTD

THE CURIOUS LOUNGE C.I.C.

THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED

THE SKILLS NETWORK LIMITED

THINK EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

TWIN TRAINING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

The Skills and Business Hub Limited

The University of the West of England, Bristol

WELLBEING WORKSHOPS DEVON CIC

Weston College

YOUNG DEVON

YTKO LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

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...