Planning

Gloucestershire Adult Skills Programme 2026

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

19 May 2026 at 06:51

Summary of the contracting process

Gloucestershire County Council is initiating an open procurement process for its Adult Skills Programme 2026, aimed at engaging in service-based contracts within the adult and other education services industry. This planned tender, announced on 19th May 2026, covers several lots focusing on different skill development needs, including First Steps, Employability, training for Adults with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (ALDD), and local training needs aligned with the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). The procurement process is in the planning stage, with tender documents expected early in June 2026. Interested suppliers must be registered on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) to tender, with submissions facilitated through www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk by 25th June 2026. Contracts are anticipated to commence on 28th September 2026 and last until July 2027, potentially extendable subject to funding.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses within the education and training sectors, especially those specialising in community education, vocational training, and support for adults with learning difficulties. With a procurement value capped at £250,000 across four lots, companies with expertise in these areas can benefit from long-term collaboration possibilities, including additional contract extensions based on performance and demand. The process is open to multiple suppliers per lot, making it accessible for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) that can deliver high-quality, socially valuable outcomes. Successful participation in this tender could lead to expanded service offerings and increased market presence within Gloucestershire.

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Notice Title

Gloucestershire Adult Skills Programme 2026

Notice Description

Gloucestershire County is seeking suppliers to deliver a series of courses for the Community and Adult skills programme 2026 to 2027 The contracts are expected to last no longer than 12 months ending July 2027 The total value of the contracts for 2026 to 2027 will not exceed 250,000 There are 4 Lots Lot 1 First Steps Programmes which engage and progress low skilled and low waged or unemployed adults ultimately to Employability courses accredited learning or employment Lot 2 Employability These courses must give learners the skills and knowledge they need to gain employment self-employment volunteering or to take up a vocational accredited course Lot 3 Adults with Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities ALDD training Providers must challenge these learners to improve their communication skills and make relevant personal choices and decisions and to develop skills that help them become more independent in their everyday life Lot 4 Local Flex Responding to identified emerging local training needs Provision must directly respond to Local Skills Improvement Plan LSIP priorities and emerging employer demand within Gloucestershire There will be the option for two further one year extensions 1 plus 1plus 1 and subject to DfE funding Organisations must be registered on the Central Digital Platform CDP to submit a tender for this opportunity The tender documents will be issued on wwwsupplyingthesouthwestorguk ProContract All clarifications, correspondence and submissions will be made through this site It is anticipated tender documents will be issued early in June 2026 Suppliers may apply for all 4 Lots and can be awarded a contract for each Lot. More than 1 supplier may win a contract on a lot.

Lot Information

First Steps

Programmes which engage and progress low skilled and low waged or unemployed adults ultimately to Employability courses accredited learning or employment

Renewal: Subject to contract review and DfE funding

Employability

These courses must give learners the skills and knowledge they need to gain employment self employment volunteering or to take up a vocational accredited course

Renewal: Subject to contract review and DfE funding

Adults with Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities ALDD training

Providers must challenge these learners to improve their communication skills and make relevant personal choices and decisions and to develop skills that help them become more independent in their everyday life

Renewal: Subject to contract review and DfE funding

Local Flex Responding to identified emerging local training needs

Provision must directly respond to Local Skills Improvement Plan LSIP priorities and emerging employer demand within Gloucestershire

Renewal: Subject to contract review and DfE funding

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069b7d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045580-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80400000 - Adult and other education services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£750,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£750,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
25 Jun 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
3 Jun 20263 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
27 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
GLOUCESTERSHIRE 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
GLOUCESTER
Postcode
GL1 2TH
Post Town
Gloucester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK73 Gloucestershire CC
Delivery Location
TLK13 Gloucestershire CC

Local Authority
Gloucester
Electoral Ward
Westgate
Westminster Constituency
Gloucester

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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