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Framework Agreement for the Provision of Employability Services

The Highland Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

12 Aug 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

28 Oct 2025 at 00:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Highland Council created a framework for employability support services across Highland communities. The work is intended to provide flexible, innovative solutions to distinct economic challenges and is classified as education and training services (CPV 80000000). Services are delivered in the Highlands. The framework brings together providers from a broad range of backgrounds, including employability organisations, education and training bodies, mental health and digital health providers, youth and community organisations, personal development coaches, creative and outdoor activity providers, and social enterprises. This is a service opportunity for organisations able to design and deliver support that helps people improve their employability, with solutions adapted to local economic and community needs.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through an open procedure for one lot. The tender closed on 27 November 2025 at 12:00, with bids opened at that time, and the award period began on 27 November 2025. The framework contract was signed on 1 March 2026 and is active. Its value is £10,000,000. The initial contract period is 1,440 days, approximately 47 months, with an option to extend for a further 24 months. Thirty-three bids were received, including 10 from SMEs. Thirty-three electronic bids were submitted. The award covers 33 suppliers, including STEMRAN LIMITED, Social Enterprise Academy, UHI North, West and Hebrides, Youth Highland, Kooth Digital Health Limited, Barnardo's and other specialist organisations. Evaluation gave 40 points to service delivery methodology and 20 to price; variants were not allowed.

This award shows that The Highland Council uses a multi-provider framework for employability support rather than relying on a single delivery model. A credible future competitor would need to demonstrate a clear, effective service delivery methodology and offer value for money. Relevant strengths may include experience of employability support, skills development, education or training, mental health and wellbeing, youth work, coaching, community development, digital support, creative or outdoor activities, or services delivered through social enterprise and voluntary-sector models. Providers should be able to develop innovative responses to local economic challenges and work with Highland communities. The awarded supplier group also indicates that both larger organisations and SMEs can participate, including specialist and locally based providers.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Employability Services

Notice Description

The creation of an Employability Support Services Framework aims to provide the flexibility to create innovative solutions to address the distinct economic challenges within Highland communities. Please refer to the ITT documents for full details.

Lot Information

Lot 1

A number of key policy drivers influence the design and delivery of Employability Services across the Highlands. The creation of an Employability Support Services Framework aims to provide the flexibility to create innovative solutions to address the distinct economic challenges within Highland communities. Please refer to the ITT documentation for the full details.

Renewal: 24 months initially, with an option to extend for a further 24 months - please see documentation for further information.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000814143
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG562123
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£10,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
27 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Mar 20265 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The Highland 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
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV3 5NX
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness West
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
33
Supplier Names

Aban Outdoor Ltd.

Apex Scotland

Barnardo's

Calman Trust Ltd

Centred(Scotland)

Change Mental Health Ltd

ENABLE Scotland (leading the Way)

Emspired

Farmer Jones Academy c.i.c

Flip of The Coin SCIO

Glachbeg Croft Ltd

Glow impact CIC

Highland Thrive CIC

IRL Education CIC

Impact Arts

Kooth Digital Health Limited

Laura Lodahl Personal Development Coaching

Lead Scotland

Merkinch Partnership

Mhor Collective

Nairn River Enterprise (Green Hive)

New Start Highland

Perfect Patter Ltd

Runours Beauty School

STEMRAN LIMITED

Salvation Army Trustee Company(The)

Social Enterprise Academy

Street League

The CV Guru

Thurso community cafe

Triage Central Limited

UHI North, West and Hebrides

Youth Highland

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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