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Aspiring Pathways Project

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

12 Oct 2026 at 17:33

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 Oct 2026 at 17:03

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Yorkshire Combined Authority intends to commission Aspiring Pathways, a workplace-experience programme for young people attending 11 Alternative Provision settings across West Yorkshire. The service is intended to widen access to meaningful, high-quality workplace experiences, particularly for young people facing additional barriers to progression. Delivery is expected to be flexible and inclusive, supporting different levels of readiness. It includes preparation and workplace-readiness activity for young people not yet ready to enter a workplace, as well as routes to build confidence, skills and experience over time. The programme is informed by the Careers & Enterprise Company’s Equalex framework and depends on collaboration between the provider, participating settings and employers. This is a planned education and training service, rather than a request for goods or construction work.

The process is at planning: the authority has announced its intention to procure and is undertaking preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders at this stage. It expects to use an open procedure for one planned lot. The authority has arranged a Microsoft Teams market-engagement event for 21 October 2026, 10:00–11:00, for prospective providers to hear about requirements and procurement and ask questions. Its stated engagement-response date is 20 October 2026. The planned tender submission deadline is 7 December 2026, with award expected by 14 December 2026; these are indicative dates, not deadlines to bid now. The planned contract period runs from 14 December 2026 to 31 August 2028. Estimated value is £290,000 excluding VAT (£348,000 including VAT).

This is likely to suit providers experienced in work-experience programmes, careers and employability support for young people, especially those with additional barriers or who are not yet ready for workplace placements. The delivery model calls for the ability to assess and respond to differing needs and readiness, provide structured preparation and workplace-readiness activity, and support progression in confidence, skills and experience. Providers should be able to work collaboratively with 11 Alternative Provision settings and build effective employer partnerships that create meaningful routes into work. Familiarity with the Careers & Enterprise Company’s Equalex framework would help shape the approach. The programme’s multi-setting, inclusive delivery will favour organisations able to coordinate provision and adapt it to individual interests and circumstances. The planned market-engagement session offers a chance to understand the authority’s ambitions and inform preparation before the procurement reaches tender stage.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Aspiring Pathways Project

Notice Description

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is preparing to commission Aspiring Pathways, a targeted programme designed to increase access to high quality and meaningful experience of the workplace for young people attending Alternative Provision settings across West Yorkshire. The purpose of this early market engagement is to raise awareness among potential providers, share our ambitions for the programme and encourage organisations to consider how their experience, expertise and partnerships could contribute to its successful delivery. Aspiring Pathways is a nationally funded programme designed to improve access to workplace experiences for young people in Alternative Provision, particularly those who may face additional barriers to progression. We are seeking a provider who can work collaboratively with 11 participating AP settings, to deliver a flexible, inclusive and progressive approach to work experience, recognising that young people in Alternative Provision will have different starting points and levels of readiness. Delivery will need include appropriate preparation and workplace-readiness activity for those not yet ready to enter a workplace, supporting young people to build confidence, skills and experience over time. The approach should be informed by the Careers & Enterprise Company's Equalex framework, shaped around individual needs and interests, and underpinned by strong partnerships with AP settings and employers to create meaningful pathways into the world of work. Please note that this PPN is for prior information only, to inform potential suppliers of an upcoming opportunity and an engagement event for those interested in bidding. Additional Information A pre-market engagement event will be held via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 21st October from 10:00am - 11:00am. Attending will be members of the Combined Authority's Careers & Education Team and Commercial Team. This session will give an overview of the Combined Authority's requirements and procurement process and allow prospective bidders to ask detailed questions. To attend the session, please complete the form linked in the attached PPN document, or via the URL here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_DvpNGbuRUOk_oBbZ-SAwPOPFfNtYt5FmXqWSs2bdjtUNjBWQU1HSU5UV05FQ01IMUcxODdHSlVGSi4u

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=109992&TID=100115023&B=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078607
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096308-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

80500000 - Training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£290,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£290,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Oct 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Dec 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 1-2 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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