Tender

Employability Skills and Advice Programme for Refugees

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

13 Jan 2026 at 09:50

Summary of the contracting process

Cambridge City Council is seeking to procure services for an Employability Skills and Advice Programme aimed at refugees under various UK government schemes. This open competition is primarily classified under training and equal opportunities consultancy services and is valued at £48,000. The process, currently in the tender stage, will conclude with the contract commencing on 1st April 2026 and possibly extending until 31st March 2029 if renewed. Interested parties should submit their proposals electronically by the deadline of 9th February 2026, with the enquiry period closing on 2nd February 2026. The programme is to be implemented within Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of diverse refugee groups, ensuring adaptability in service delivery.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in training services, consultancy on equal opportunities, and those experienced in working with refugee populations. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are particularly well-positioned to compete, given their likely ability to provide flexible, culturally-sensitive, and tailored support. By providing crucial employability skills and advice to refugees, businesses can not only expand their service offerings but also contribute to meaningful social impact, enhancing their portfolio and establishing strong community ties and networks.

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Notice Title

Employability Skills and Advice Programme for Refugees

Notice Description

Cambridge City Council seeks a service provider that will deliver an employability skills and advice programme that: * Understands the challenges refugee families face due to issues such as the benefit cap, meaning that refugees may need to take on entry-level positions alongside completing training for financial stability, before progressing to high-skilled employment positions * Carries out an initial assessment to gage individual skill profiles, including their employment history, qualifications, and interests * Provides tailored support based on the clients current English level, providing interpreting support where required * Identifies and facilitates access to relevant training and qualifications (such as IELTS or vocational courses) * Provides clients with essentials they will need to navigate life in the UK, such support to create a CV, digital skills training, employment rights, etc. * Supports clients to apply for jobs, provides interview preparation, and monitors progress and learning * Where clients have existing qualifications, supports them to have these converted and recognised in the UK (such as ENIC) so that they can resume previous career pathways, reducing a sense of hopelessness and lost time * Builds links with employers in Cambridge to provide employment and volunteering opportunities The service will be primarily aimed at people living in Cambridge city and South Cambridgeshire who have travelled under the following Government schemes: o Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) o UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS) o Homes for Ukraine (HfU) and Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Regional and local authority data on some of these groups can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-regional-and-local-authority-data However, needs may change overtime and therefore it is important that the supplier is able to effectively work with any refugee or asylum-seeking group. The supplier will recognise that world events can quickly influence what is required and who may need to access a service. The service must be flexible to needs and demonstrate a sound understanding of different customs and cultures and delivering a service to people who have experienced trauma.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060440
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002503-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

80500000 - Training services

98200000 - Equal opportunities consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£40,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£40,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@cambridge.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CAMBRIDGE
Postcode
CB2 1BY
Post Town
Cambridge
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC

Local Authority
Cambridge
Electoral Ward
Market
Westminster Constituency
Cambridge

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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