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Executive Recruitment Framework

Stoke on Trent City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Aug 2026 at 15:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is planning a recruitment services framework for permanent senior leadership appointments across the organisation. The expected scope covers executive search and candidate identification, candidate attraction and engagement, advertising and recruitment campaign management, market mapping, candidate assessment and selection support, interview and appointment support, offer negotiation and appointment management, and diversity and inclusion initiatives within recruitment campaigns. Roles may include Chief Officers, Corporate Directors, Directors and Heads of Service. The work is intended to support the Council’s recruitment activity in Stoke-on-Trent. This is a services procurement, classified as recruitment services, and is expected to use a multi-supplier framework so that the Council can draw on several specialist executive recruitment providers.

This procurement is at the planning stage. The Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement before launching the procurement and expects to establish a multi-supplier framework. It is seeking written feedback on executive recruitment and search methods, candidate attraction, equality, diversity and inclusion, framework and call-off arrangements, commercial and pricing models, replacement guarantees, performance reporting, innovation and good practice. The engagement response date is 7 September 2026. The proposed contract period is 8 December 2026 to 7 December 2028, with a possible extension to 7 December 2029. The estimated value is £168,000 excluding VAT, or £201,600 including VAT. The framework is below the relevant threshold, and the opportunity is planned as one lot.

This will suit executive search firms and specialist recruitment providers with experience of sourcing and appointing permanent senior leaders in complex organisations. Relevant capability includes executive search, market mapping, candidate attraction, campaign management, assessment and selection, interview and appointment support, offer negotiation, and managing the appointment process through to completion. Providers should be prepared to explain their operating model, commercial and pricing approach, call-off arrangements, candidate replacement guarantees, performance management and reporting, and examples of innovation or good practice. The Council is also looking for credible approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion in recruitment campaigns. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable for the planned procurement, and firms can use the engagement stage to help shape the eventual requirements before the framework reaches the market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Executive Recruitment Framework

Notice Description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement in advance of a procurement exercise for the provision of Executive Recruitment Services. The Council intends to establish a multi-supplier Executive framework to support the recruitment of permanent senior leadership positions across the organisation. The framework is expected to support recruitment to roles including but not limited to, Chief Officers, Corporate Directors, Directors and Heads of Service. The Council wishes to engage with the market to better understand current market capabilities, operating models, commercial approaches and emerging best practice within the executive recruitment sector. Scope of Services The proposed framework is expected to include services such as: Executive search and candidate identification Candidate attraction and engagement Advertising and recruitment campaign management Market mapping Candidate assessment and selection support Interview and appointment support Offer negotiation and appointment management Diversity and inclusion initiatives within recruitment campaigns

Planning Information

Purpose of Market Engagement The Council is seeking feedback from providers in relation to: Executive recruitment and search methodologies Candidate attraction strategies Equality, diversity and inclusion approaches Framework and call-off arrangements Commercial and pricing models Candidate replacement guarantees Performance management and reporting requirements Emerging innovations and good practice within the sector. Interested organisations are invited to provide written feedback on the areas identified within this notice by the engagement deadline. Participation in this market engagement exercise will not form part of any future procurement evaluation and will not provide any supplier with any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement process. Responses should be submitted by email to Agnes.Ashun@stoke.gov.uk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e5d1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078208-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£168,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
8 Dec 2026 - 7 Dec 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Stoke on Trent City 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
STOKE-ON-TRENT
Postcode
ST4 1HH
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)
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent
Delivery Location
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent
Local Authority
Stoke-on-Trent
Electoral Ward
Hartshill Park & Stoke
Westminster Constituency
Stoke-on-Trent Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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