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Gloucestershire Adult Skills Programme 2026- 2027

Gloucestershire County Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

13 Aug 2026 at 13:29

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

17 Jun 2026 at 11:55

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

19 May 2026 at 07:51

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Gloucestershire County Council commissioned adult and community education services for its Gloucestershire Adult Skills Programme. Delivery is in Gloucestershire and covers four areas: First Steps courses; employability training; training for adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; and Local Flex provision responding to identified or emerging local training needs. The procurement is for services classified as adult and other education. It is relevant to training providers, colleges, social enterprises and community organisations able to design and deliver adult learning provision across one or more of these areas. The council is the buying organisation, with delivery focused on local skills and employment needs in Gloucestershire. The programme is divided into distinct service areas, allowing providers with specialist experience in particular learner groups or training outcomes to identify a suitable area of work.

The procurement is complete and awards were made on 13 August 2026 through an accelerated open procedure under the light-touch regime. Awards were made separately: First Steps to Breakthrough Social Enterprise, Educate 2gether Training, Step Ahead Social Enterprise, BlueOrbit Global and Primed Talent for £390,000 excluding VAT (£468,000 including VAT); Employability to those five suppliers plus City of Bristol College for £150,000 excluding VAT (£180,000 including VAT); ALDD training to Cinderford Artspace and Art Shape for £150,000 excluding VAT (£180,000 including VAT); and Local Flex to BlueOrbit Global, Step Ahead Social Enterprise, Breakthrough Social Enterprise, Educate 2gether Training and Art Shape for £60,000 excluding VAT (£72,000 including VAT). Contracts are scheduled for 28 September 2026 to 31 July 2027, with options for two further 12-month extensions to 31 July 2029, subject to review and funding. Quality accounted for 100% of evaluation, with economic and technical selection requirements. Contract signature was scheduled for 25 September 2026.

This award shows Gloucestershire County Council uses a multi-supplier model for adult skills delivery, with opportunities suited to both specialist providers and organisations able to cover several service areas. Credible competitors would need a clear track record in adult education, employability provision, first-step learning, support for adults with learning difficulties or disabilities, or flexible responses to changing local training needs. Providers should be able to demonstrate strong service quality, together with the economic and technical capacity required by the council’s selection requirements. The successful supplier group includes several SMEs, a college, social enterprises and organisations with community or creative-learning profiles, indicating that smaller and specialist providers can compete alongside larger education bodies. Organisations considering future Gloucestershire skills work should be able to work collaboratively where appropriate and tailor provision to local learners and identified demand.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Gloucestershire Adult Skills Programme 2026- 2027

Notice Description

Gloucestershire County is seeking suppliers to deliver a series of courses for the Community and Adult skills programme 2026-2027. The contracts are expected to last no longer than12 months, ending July 2026. The total value of the contracts for 2026/ 2027 will not exceed PS250,000. There are 4 Lots. Lots 1 First Steps Lot 2 Employability Lot 3 Adults with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (ALDD) training Lot 4 Local Flex (Responding to identified/emerging local training needs) There will be the option for two further one year extensions, 1 plus 1, plus 1, subject to contract review and DfE funding.

Lot Information

First Steps

Renewal: Subject to contract review and DfE funding. Initial contract up to 12 months as per approved funding. There will be the option for two further one year extensions subject to funding. Ending July 2029.

Employability

Renewal: Subject to contract review and DfE funding. Initial contract up to 12 months as per approved funding. There will be the option for two further one year extensions subject to funding. Ending July 2029.

Adults with Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities ALDD training

Renewal: Subject to contract review and DfE funding. Initial contract up to 12 months as per approved funding. There will be the option for two further one year extensions subject to funding. Ending July 2029.

Local Flex Responding to identified emerging local training needs

Renewal: Subject to contract review and DfE funding. Initial contract up to 12 months as per approved funding. There will be the option for two further one year extensions subject to funding. Ending July 2029.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069b7d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077252-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
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

80400000 - Adult and other education services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£750,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£750,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
3 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
13 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
28 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

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 2TG
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
8
Supplier Names

BREAKTHROUGH SOCIAL ENTERPRISE LIMITED

Educate 2Gether Training

Step Ahead Social Enterprise Community Interest Company

BLUEORBIT GLOBAL LIMITED

PRIMED TALENT LIMITED

City of Bristol College

Cinderford Artspace

Art Shape

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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