Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF SKILLS FOUNDATION

Durham County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Jul 2026 at 13:48

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council procured adult education services under its Adult Skills Programme Skills Foundation. The work provides non-accredited skills development in numeracy, literacy, digital skills and confidence-building, helping residents develop core capabilities and progress towards further training, progression and employment. Provision is intended to engage adults in learning, respond to local need and support regional economic growth, with payment linked to results and outcomes. The service is delivered in the Durham area. This is a public-sector education and employability opportunity for organisations able to design and deliver accessible learning for adults, build confidence among learners with differing starting points, and support progression beyond initial participation.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a below-threshold direct award without competition under the light-touch regime. One lot produced four separate awards, all signed on 20 July 2026, with contracts running from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027. Stanley Events Ltd received a contract worth £71,244 gross; SportsCape Training Ltd £68,040 gross; North East Dance Community Interest Company £47,880 gross; and Groundwork North East £20,088 gross. The contracts are active and include provisions allowing underspend to move between providers, or value to be shared with other performing providers, subject to a 50% limit and the overall contracted value. Poor Ofsted performance may lead to termination action.

This award demonstrates demand from Durham County Council for a multi-provider adult skills model combining practical learning with confidence-building and progression into further training or employment. Credible competitors would need to deliver non-accredited numeracy, literacy and digital learning, engage adults who may be distant from education, and evidence outcomes rather than only attendance. The selected provider mix also indicates value in complementary delivery capabilities, including community-based engagement, specialist training and activity-based or creative approaches. Organisations should be able to work collaboratively across a local provider network, manage performance against outcome requirements and transfer delivery smoothly if another provider underperforms or exits. Strong quality assurance is important, including readiness for Ofsted scrutiny and the ability to demonstrate accessible, high-quality provision.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF SKILLS FOUNDATION

Notice Description

The Adult Skills Programme Skills Foundation focuses on non-accredited skills development, such as numeracy, literacy, digital skills and confidence-building, ensuring residents have the core capabilities needed to succeed. The Adult Skills Programme is focused on ensuring that public investment in skills is targeted effectively, responds to local need and supports the future growth of our regional economy. high quality provision that engages adults into learning, builds confidence and essential skills, and creates accessible pathways into further training, progression and employment. Payment on results and Outcomes.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cfe2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068715-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£172,710 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Durham 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
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
4
Supplier Names

Stanley Events Ltd

Sportscape Training

North East Dance Community Interest Company

Groundwork North East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...