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Student Employability and Enterprise Programme

Staffordshire County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

11 Aug 2026 at 09:39

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

20 May 2026 at 16:53

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Staffordshire County Council procured a student employability and enterprise programme for post-16 further education students and Year 9 secondary school students in Staffordshire who are considering starting a business now or in the future. The service combines an online learning platform with intensive workshops, mentoring and ongoing support. Its educational content covers market research, business planning, operations, financial forecasting, taxation, marketing and funding. This is a public-sector education and vocational training service, classified under CPV codes 80210000 and 80530000. Delivery is across Staffordshire, with the council as the buying organisation. The requirement is intended to build practical enterprise skills and help young people understand how to establish and run a business.

The procurement is complete following an open procedure. The contract was awarded to PEOPLEPLUS GROUP LIMITED on 10 August 2026 for £412,000 excluding VAT (£494,400 including VAT). The contract period is 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2028, with the council able to extend it in two further 12-month periods through 31 August 2030. It is a single lot, with options to adjust the number of sessions and students and potentially change the groups or needs addressed. Evaluation was weighted 80% quality and 20% price. Participation required economic and technical conditions. Twelve bids reached the final stage, including ten from SMEs. The contract signature milestone was scheduled for 27 August 2026.

This award shows sustained demand from Staffordshire County Council for a provider able to deliver youth enterprise education at county scale, combining digital learning with face-to-face workshops, mentoring and learner support. A credible future competitor would need the capacity to engage both further education students and younger secondary pupils, organise delivery with education providers, and adapt sessions to changing student numbers, year groups and needs. Relevant capability includes practical teaching or training in market research, business planning, operations, financial forecasting, taxation, marketing and funding, supported by an effective online platform. The evaluation’s strong emphasis on quality indicates that delivery approach, educational content, engagement and performance capability matter more than price alone. The opportunity was suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, and ten final-stage bidders were SMEs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Student Employability and Enterprise Programme

Notice Description

Staffordshire County Council are procuring an employability and enterprise programme, that provides an online learning platform, intensive workshops, mentoring and support for post-16 Further Education students and year 9 Secondary School students, looking to set up their own business in Staffordshire now or in the future. It provides students with the skills to understand areas such as: Market Research, Business Planning, Operations, Financial Forecasting, Taxation, Marketing, Funding. Further details can be found in the tender specification. The contract will commence on 1st September 2026 and, subject to earlier termination in accordance with its terms, will continue until midnight on 31st August 2028. At the Authority's entire discretion, the term may be extended by up to 12 months - 1st September 2028 up to 31st August 2029 and 1st September 2029 up to 31st August 2030, on the same terms for such period(s) in accordance with the contract. The total estimated Contract value (excluding VAT) circa PS412,000 over the total four (4) years.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: It is anticipated that at the end of each academic year delivery period a review of the number of sessions and students to be engaged will be undertaken, there may be a request to increase the numbers delivered or to make changes to the year group or young persons needs to be addressed. SCC will rely upon Schedule 5 Direct Award Justifications under Additional or repeat goods, services or works that it is our intention to carry out a subsequent procurement of similar goods, services or works in reliance of this direct award justification

Renewal: At the Authority's entire discretion, the term may be extended by up to 12 months - 1st September 2028 up to 31st August 2029 and 1st September 2029 up to 31st August 2030, on the same terms for such period(s) in accordance with the contract.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069e1d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076031-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80210000 - Technical and vocational secondary education services

80530000 - Vocational training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£412,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£412,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£412,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
18 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2029-05-21

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Staffordshire 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
STAFFORD
Postcode
ST16 2DH
Postcode Area
Stoke-on-Trent
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG24 Staffordshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Stafford
Electoral Ward
Forebridge
Westminster Constituency
Stafford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PeoplePlus Group Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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