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Further Education Industry Partnerships Pilot

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

27 Jul 2026 at 14:34

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

20 Jul 2026 at 12:31

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Yorkshire Combined Authority plans a Further Education Industry Partnerships Pilot across West Yorkshire. The service will design, develop and deliver a programme linking engineering and manufacturing businesses with further education colleges and independent training providers. Industry experts will support curriculum delivery for 16–19 and adult learners through T Levels, apprenticeships, adult skills courses and study programmes. The supplier will undertake research and design, build on the authority’s existing knowledge, mobilise the pilot and manage relationships between education and industry partners. It will coordinate collaboration, monitor progress against targets and develop a sustainable model that colleges and training providers can use to address tutor shortages and improve access to current specialist knowledge. The work is classified primarily as education and training services, with delivery across West Yorkshire.

This is a planned procurement at the intention-to-procure stage, rather than an invitation to tender. The authority initially described a below-threshold open competition, but a subsequent amendment says the exercise will no longer be procured via an open tender, so the expected procedure has changed. The planned contract is for one service lot, with an estimated value of £166,000 excluding VAT and £200,000 including VAT. The anticipated contract period runs from 2 November 2026 to 30 March 2029. The authority expected a further notice on 27 July 2026. The original notice included enquiry and submission dates of 30 July 2026, but these relate to the planned notice process and do not create a current tender deadline. The buyer has not set out a bid evaluation basis in this planning information.

The work is likely to suit an organisation experienced in designing and delivering education, skills or workforce-development programmes, particularly one able to operate across further education and industry. Strong relationship-management and partnership-development capability will be important, as will established links with West Yorkshire businesses, including larger employers and SMEs, and with FE colleges or independent training providers. The supplier will need to assess gaps in tutors’ current industry knowledge, identify suitable business volunteers and coordinate their contribution to teaching. Relevant networks in engineering and manufacturing are central, covering the range of disciplines taught in the pilot. Experience supporting apprenticeships, T Levels, adult skills provision or study programmes would be well aligned. Providers should also be able to set measurable targets, monitor delivery and turn pilot learning into a sustainable model for education partners.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Further Education Industry Partnerships Pilot

Notice Description

*This is a Planned Procurement Notice only* West Yorkshire Combined Authority will shortly be tendering for a supplier who will lead the design, development and delivery of a pilot project focussed on building strong partnerships between West Yorkshire-based industry/businesses in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, and the region's Further Education (FE) colleges and independent training providers. The specific focus of the pilot is the design and delivery of a programme which enables industry experts to support curriculum delivery in FE settings. We envisage the successful supplier will carry out a short research and design phase which builds on existing knowledge provided by the Combined Authority and then mobilise and deliver the pilot project. In the delivery of the pilot, the supplier will be responsible for relationship management between industry and education partners, coordinating opportunities for collaboration, ensuring delivery takes place against targets, and monitoring progress. The supplier should identify a sustainable model of delivery that FE providers can take to increase their collaboration with industry partners to tackle challenges around tutor gaps and specialist knowledge sharing. The successful supplier will have experience liaising between education and industry partners, with established links to appropriate teams in West Yorkshire-based businesses (both larger organisations and SMEs). This project will focus on the delivery of manufacturing and engineering (all types) teaching to 16-19 and adult learners (including via T Levels, apprenticeships, adult skills courses and study programmes). Therefore, the businesses/industry partners engaged should be able to provide industry volunteers who are skilled in one or more of the above subject areas. The specific skills required from industry will become clearer as the research and design with partner education providers takes place, and we expect the supplier to assess where there are gaps in currency and knowledge across further education, and how the businesses can support these.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ceba
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070832-2026
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
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

85000000 - Health and social work services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£166,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£166,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
27 Jul 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 30 Mar 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEEDS
Postcode
LS1 2DE
Postcode Area
Leeds
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Little London & Woodhouse
Westminster Constituency
Leeds Central and Headingley

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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