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Provision of Skills Bootcamps in Herefordshire

Herefordshire Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

21 Aug 2026 at 09:08

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Herefordshire Council intends to commission Skills Bootcamp provision across Herefordshire. The service will provide flexible, employer-led training for adults, focused on sector-specific skills that can lead to employment, career progression, apprenticeships, self-employment or higher-skilled work. The council wants to understand and develop provision that responds to local workforce shortages, supports economic growth priorities, improves employer engagement and creates clear routes into work. It is interested in training providers, further and higher education providers, employers, employer representative organisations, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, and other relevant stakeholders. The procurement is for education and training services, classified under adult and other education services and training services. Delivery will take place in Herefordshire. The planned service is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is not yet a call for competition. Herefordshire Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement through a Request for Information to shape the future service design, procurement strategy and commissioning approach. The council expects organisations to submit RFI responses by 17:00 on 4 September 2026, with questions raised through the specified portal. The planned contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028. The council has not yet set out a tender procedure, evaluation method or contract value. The engagement will examine current market capacity, existing Skills Bootcamp provision, delivery models, employer engagement, learner support, emerging skills needs, sector priorities and commissioning options. Participation in the engagement is voluntary and will not form part of a later procurement.

This engagement will suit organisations able to design and deliver adult training linked to genuine employment and progression outcomes. Relevant suppliers are likely to include established training providers, colleges, universities, employers and employer representative bodies, as well as voluntary, community and social enterprises with strong learner-support capability. The council is looking for evidence of capacity to deliver Skills Bootcamps, understanding of local sector needs and workforce shortages, and effective relationships with employers. Providers should be prepared to explain their delivery models, employer engagement methods, approaches to supporting learners facing barriers to employment, and how provision could contribute to local economic growth. Organisations with experience creating routes into employment, apprenticeships, self-employment or higher-skilled roles will be well placed to contribute to the service design.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Skills Bootcamps in Herefordshire

Notice Description

Herefordshire Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the future commissioning and development of Skills Bootcamp provision within Herefordshire. The Council is seeking information from training providers, further and higher education providers, employers, employer representative organisations and other stakeholders. Skills Bootcamps are flexible, employer-led training programmes designed to help adults develop sector-specific skills that lead to employment, progression within work, apprenticeships, self-employment or higher-skilled job opportunities. Through this Request for Information (RFI), the Council wishes to better understand the current market, existing provision, delivery models, provider capacity, employer engagement approaches and emerging skills needs across the county. Responses will inform the future design of Skills Bootcamp provision, procurement strategy and commissioning approach. The Council is particularly interested in provision that demonstrates strong employer engagement, delivers clear routes into employment, supports local economic growth priorities, addresses workforce shortages and improves opportunities for residents facing barriers to employment. This notice relates to preliminary market engagement only and does not constitute a call for competition or the commencement of a procurement process.

Planning Information

Herefordshire Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement through a Request for Information (RFI) to inform the future commissioning and development of Skills Bootcamp provision within Herefordshire. The Council is seeking engagement from training providers, further and higher education providers, employers, employer representative organisations, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations and other stakeholders. Interested organisations are invited to review the RFI documentation and submit responses via the Supplying the South West Portal by 17:00 on 4 September 2026. Clarification questions should be submitted through the messaging facility within the Portal. The engagement seeks information on current market capacity, existing Skills Bootcamp provision, delivery models, employer engagement approaches, learner support, emerging skills needs, sector priorities and commissioning options. Information gathered will be used to inform the future procurement strategy and service design. Participation in this market engagement exercise is voluntary and does not form part of a procurement process or provide any advantage in any future procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e937
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079740-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80400000 - Adult and other education services

80500000 - Training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 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
Herefordshire 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
HEREFORD
Postcode
HR4 0LE
Postcode Area
Hereford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG11 Herefordshire, County of
Delivery Location
TLG11 Herefordshire, County of
Local Authority
Herefordshire, County of
Electoral Ward
Widemarsh
Westminster Constituency
Hereford and South Herefordshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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