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Learning, Skills and Employability Service Adult Skills Programme Flexible Framework

Sunderland City Council

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

04 Sep 2026 at 14:13

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

21 Aug 2026 at 11:06

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

01 Jul 2026 at 12:50

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

22 Jun 2026 at 18:25

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

08 May 2026 at 09:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sunderland City Council commissioned an Adult Skills Programme Flexible Framework for learning, skills and employability services. The requirement covers adult training and education provision delivered in Sunderland, classified as education and training services (CPV 80000000). It is divided into three service areas: Skills Foundation, Skills Activation and Skills for Work. The framework is intended to support delivery for adults through providers able to offer relevant learning, employability and skills provision. It is a light-touch service arrangement under the Procurement Act 2023, with Sunderland City Council as the buying organisation. The framework is closed and operates as an open framework scheme, with further competition used for call-offs. The lots were suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprise providers.

The procurement has been awarded and contracts are active. Sunderland City Council used an accelerated open procedure to establish the framework and immediate call-offs, evaluated on quality. Lot 1, Skills Foundation, was awarded on 1 August 2026 to 34 providers for £1,462,500 net (£1,755,000 gross). Lot 2, Skills Activation, was awarded on 11 August 2026 to 38 providers for £3,802,500 net (£4,563,000 gross). Lot 3, Skills for Work, was awarded on 11 August 2026 to 26 providers for £900,000 net (£1,080,000 gross). Contracts were signed on 31 August 2026 and run from 1 September 2026 to 31 July 2029. A 20% win fee applies to the award value. The framework uses further competition, with an accelerated procedure justified by the light-touch regime.

This procurement demonstrates sustained local demand for adult learning, employability and skills delivery across foundation learning, activation and preparation for work. It is relevant to training providers, colleges, employability organisations and specialist education businesses able to deliver structured adult provision in Sunderland. The buyer accepted a broad provider base, including SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, indicating that smaller and mission-led providers can be credible participants alongside larger training groups. Future competitors would need a clear quality-led delivery model, the capacity to support adult learners at the required scale, and the ability to respond to further competitions under a flexible framework. Providers with established local partnerships, learner support arrangements and experience across vocational, employability or progression-focused training would be well placed to pursue comparable requirements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Learning, Skills and Employability Service Adult Skills Programme Flexible Framework

Notice Description

Provision of Learning, Skills and Employability Service Adult Skills Programme Flexible Framework

Planning Information

Please register www.open-uk.org to obtain pre market engagement documents Adult Skills Programme Reference Number OPEN2026997

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069410
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083926-2026
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

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,165,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,165,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£6,165,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£6,165,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2029 2-3 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
Sunderland 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
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR1 3AA
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC23 Sunderland
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Millfield
Westminster Constituency
Sunderland Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
51
Supplier Names

ALD Skills Academy Ltd

Acorn Training Ltd

BREAKTHROUGH SOCIAL ENTERPRISE LIMITED

Bright Direction Training Limited

Brightsparks Training

CENTRAL EMPLOYMENT AGENCY (NORTH EAST) LIMITED

D.T.K. BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

Eden Training Academy Limited

Employer Links Ltd

Enterprise Made Simple

Foundation of Light

Groundwork North East

Handcrafted Projects

Learning Curve Group

LOKMAN TRAINING LTD

North East Dance Community Interest Company

Optimum Skills Limited

Orangebox Training Solutions

Parker Enterprise Company Ltd

SKILLS-UK, EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED

Sportscape Training

SUNDERLAND BANGLADESH INTERNATIONAL CENTRE LIMITED

The International Education Group

The Social Co Academy

THE TRAINING BROKERS LIMITED

TVCP

Training in Childcare Ltd

TRIAGE CENTRUM LIMITED

Uplift Associates Ltd

VIRIDIS GREEN LIMITED

Winnovation Ltd

Realise Learning and Employment Limited

B-SKILL LIMITED

I N F I N I T Y 27 LTD.

Code Institute

Evolution Training and Consultancy Services Limited

FIRST FACE TO FACE LTD

LOGISTICS SKILLS & CONSULTANCY LTD

MEDEX (GROUP) LTD

N and C Group

Penshaw View Training

PETER SMYTHE TRANSPORT TRAINING LIMITED

RE:GEN ACADEMY LIMITED

Staff Power Training Limited

THE PORTLAND TRAINING COMPANY LIMITED

TRN (Train) Ltd

U Training Limited

Baltic Training Services

Let Me Play

PITMAN TRAINING GROUP LIMITED

THE SQUARE METRE LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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