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Market Engagement Event - Welsh Harp Land based Education, Training and Skills Service and Centre

London Borough of Brent

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

13 Oct 2026 at 11:20

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

13 Oct 2026 at 11:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The London Borough of Brent is exploring a land-based education and skills service at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre in Wembley. The purpose is to give Brent residents aged 16–25 who face barriers to employment, further learning or independent adulthood access to practical learning and routes towards work, independence and community participation. The service is intended to combine accredited and non-accredited learning, functional skills, work placements and hands-on activity in horticulture, conservation, land management, environmental education, customer service and site maintenance. It will also provide a community hub, with activities supporting life skills, wellbeing, volunteering and social connection. Delivery is planned within a new centre in the Welsh Harp nature reserve, a 170-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest.

This is a planning-stage procurement: Brent is consulting potential providers, not inviting bids. It has developed a questionnaire for current and prospective providers and planned a Microsoft Teams market-engagement event for 19 October 2026, from 3pm to 4.30pm; engagement responses are due by 30 October 2026. The Council expects to publish a further notice by 4 December 2026. The service is intended to start in September 2027, with an initial contract period to 31 August 2030 and a possible extension to 31 August 2032. The estimated value is £1.5 million excluding VAT (£1.8 million including VAT). The procurement is one lot. No tender procedure or evaluation criteria have yet been set out.

This is suited to providers experienced in land-based education and skills training for young people aged 16–25, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, care-experienced young people and young people involved in the youth justice system. Brent is seeking views from providers of green-skills and land-based education services to shape its commissioning approach. Strong candidates are likely to be able to deliver flexible vocational and functional-skills learning, approved qualifications, practical site-based activities and work placements, and to support learners with varied abilities and needs. The intended model depends on working with environmental organisations, education providers, council services, local employers and community groups to connect learning with internships, supported employment and other positive outcomes. The lot is marked suitable for small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Market Engagement Event - Welsh Harp Land based Education, Training and Skills Service and Centre

Notice Description

London Borough of Brent are looking to explore the market to establish a Land-based Education and Skills service from September 2027 at the Welsh Harp Centre. This is an opportunity for Providers who have experience of delivering land-based education and skills training and approved qualifications to young people from 16 - 25 years. The Council is seeking to engage with and obtain the views of providers of Green Skills/ Land-based education and skills training services. Opening September 2027, the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre will be a flagship hub for environmental education, land-based vocational training and community inclusion in Brent. Set within a brand-new, purpose-built centre located within the beautiful 170-hectare Welsh Harp nature reserve (the unique features of which have led to it being classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest), the Centre will provide Brent young people aged 16-25 who face barriers to employment, further learning and independent adulthood with access to nature, green space and practical learning in a calm, purposeful and inspiring environment. The Centre will provide clear and meaningful pathways into employment, further learning, greater independence and wider positive adulthood outcomes for Brent residents aged 16-25 who face barriers to employment and independent adulthood. The primary cohorts for the Service are: * Young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and young people with identified SEND who do not have an EHCP where the Service is considered appropriate to meet their needs. * Care-experienced young people, including looked-after children and care leavers. * Young people involved in the Youth Justice System. The Council recognises that there may be significant overlap between these cohorts and that learners may have differing abilities, aspirations, interests and support needs. Access to specific pathways or programmes may also be subject to relevant eligibility, programme and funding requirements. Young people will be supported to develop the skills, routines and confidence needed for work, independence, health and wellbeing, and active participation in their local community. The offer will focus on vocational learning linked to genuine employment opportunities, particularly in horticulture, conservation, land management, environmental education, customer service and site maintenance. Training will be structured but flexible, combining accredited and non-accredited learning, functional skills, work placements and live work-based activity. Young people will learn through doing: growing, planting and maintaining green spaces, supporting conservation work, contributing to site operations and engaging with visitors and community groups. The centre will also act as a social and community hub. It will offer opportunities to make friends, build life skills, improve emotional wellbeing and develop a stronger sense of belonging. For some young people, the pathway will lead to paid work or supported employment. For others, it will provide purposeful engagement, therapeutic horticulture, volunteering, independent living skills and a continuing connection to community life. Delivery will be developed with partners including environmental organisations, education providers, council services, local employers and community groups. Together, they will create a joined-up pathway from engagement to skills development, work experience, supported internships and, where appropriate, sustained employment. The Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre will therefore be more than a training site. It will be a place where young adults with additional needs can be visible, valued and supported to contribute to Brent's environmental future. It will strengthen the borough's green skills offer, improve outcomes across Preparing for Adulthood, and create a practical, inclusive route into meaningful work, wellbeing and community life.

Planning Information

A questionnaire has been developed as a first stage of engagement with current and potential future providers. The information provided will help the commissioners make decisions about the best approaches to take in commissioning Land-based Education and Skills service at the Welsh Harp Centre for Brent Council. A market engagement event via Microsoft Teams has also been scheduled on Monday 19th October 2026 which commences at 3pm and will end by 4.30pm. If you are a relevant provider interested in learning more about the project, please express an interest in this opportunity. The Council will send a message via the messaging facility in the Portal with further instructions on register and provide a meeting link. Link to opportunity: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=896654f5-eec6-f111-813c-005056b64545&p=2241eb95-058a-e511-80f7-000c29c9ba21

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078657
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096456-2026
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

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Dec 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2030 3-4 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
London Borough of Brent
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WEMBLEY
Postcode
HA9 0FJ
Postcode Area
Harrow
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI7 Outer London - West and North West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI72 Brent
Delivery Location
TLI72 Brent
Local Authority
Brent
Electoral Ward
Wembley Park
Westminster Constituency
Brent West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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