Planning

Pathways to Work Pre-Employment (Sector Specific and Vocational) Training for Sheffield - Market Engagement

SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

18 Mar 2026 at 18:13

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sheffield City Council, under its Opportunity Sheffield programme, is currently in the planning stage of its "Pathways to Work Pre-Employment (Sector Specific and Vocational) Training" project. The council is seeking partners for its upcoming 2026-27 delivery cycle to provide sector-specific training aimed at preparing unemployed and economically inactive residents for job opportunities within the city. Located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, the initiative is part-funded by the UK Government and falls under the services category. Businesses interested are invited to engage in preliminary market discussions and convey details about relevant courses and training available in the market by the deadline of 30th April 2026. This engagement is being facilitated through Sheffield's e-tendering portal, YORTender.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in specialist, vocational, and environmental training services to expand their offerings and gain traction in Sheffield's employment and skills sector. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are particularly well-suited to engage, given the project’s light touch regime and suitability criteria. By participating, companies can contribute to addressing skill gaps and help residents transition into new sectors, fostering economic growth and vitality within the region. The contract, valued at £300,000, is scheduled to commence on 1st May 2026, concluding on 31st March 2027.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Pathways to Work Pre-Employment (Sector Specific and Vocational) Training for Sheffield - Market Engagement

Notice Description

Opportunity Sheffield, the employment and skills service within Sheffield City Council, is responsible for carrying out the Pathways to Work programme across the city. As we build on the success of 2025-26, we are now seeking partners to support our 2026-27 delivery of pre-employment training programmes that will help us to address skill gaps in the city. We are looking to purchase a variety of sector specific training that will target and be suitable for Sheffield residents who are unemployed or economically inactive. The course will aim to to prepare them to move into a job within the sector. This market engagement opportunity will help us to understand what is available in the market. This project is part-funded by the UK Government.

Planning Information

• opportunity to tell us about courses/training in the market by using our online form available on the Council's e-tendering portal YORTender, where providers can also ask us questions too using the messaging feature: https://yortender.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/103887/0/0?returnUrl=ctm/Supplier/publictenders&b=YORTENDER • potential follow-up discussions with respondents. • gauge the level of interest from potential providers who may wish to enter a contract to deliver services on behalf of the Council. • gauge the scope of what is already available in or near to Sheffield, and whether something new may need to be developed to address commissioning and programme ambitions. • targeted conversations with any key stakeholders, including potential providers, to ensure we have collected a wide range of views.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066e33
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024861-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80510000 - Specialist training services

80530000 - Vocational training services

80540000 - Environmental training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Mar 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Apr 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SHEFFIELD CITY 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
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S1 2HH
Post Town
Sheffield
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
TLE31 Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, TLE32 Sheffield
Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
City
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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