---
title: "Lay Advocacy Services"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-59035559-9d4d-4966-a7ad-917d81c2e1a7"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-59035559-9d4d-4966-a7ad-917d81c2e1a7"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-59035559-9d4d-4966-a7ad-917d81c2e1a7.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-59035559-9d4d-4966-a7ad-917d81c2e1a7.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL (GMC)"
published: "2026-01-20"
---

# Lay Advocacy Services

Buyer: GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL (GMC)  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-59035559-9d4d-4966-a7ad-917d81c2e1a7

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## Summary

The procurement process for Lay Advocacy Services was undertaken by the General Medical Council (GMC), a prominent UK authority responsible for ensuring the fitness to practise of medical professionals. Classified under miscellaneous health services and social work-related services, this procurement sought to provide advocacy support to individuals with varying communication needs in the GMC’s investigative processes. The tender was conducted as an open procedure, ensuring transparent competition, with the process reaching its award stage on 2 April 2025. The contract, valued at £130,000, primarily covers services in regions including the British Oversea Territories, Channel Islands, Europe, Isle of Man, and the UK, running from 4 April 2025 to 3 April 2027. The provider selected for the contract is Pohwer, which commenced services following the procurement conclusion.

This lay advocacy services tender represents a significant opportunity for organisations experienced in providing support to vulnerable individuals, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in health and social advocacy. The contract facilitates business growth by offering a scale of operation that spans several regions, making it an ideal opportunity for businesses with capabilities to deploy resources across multiple locations. Companies well-positioned to compete in such tenders often have a proven track record in advocacy, communication support, and familiarity with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, ensuring they can effectively assist individuals through complex and sensitive processes.

## Notice

The Fitness to Practise Directorate is responsible for considering complaints about doctors Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthesia Associations (AAs). Anyone can bring a complaint directly to the GMC, including organisations, registrants, patients and their families.(For the purposes of this document a user of the lay advocacy service will be referred to as an individual.) Although we encourage these complaints to be put in writing, there are times when that is not possible or they experience difficulties putting their complaint in writing. Where this is the case, we require an independent lay advocacy service to assist in taking the complaints verbally. The lay advocacy service will also assist and engage with individuals throughout the investigation process where required. The aims of the service are to: - support individuals with a range of communication needs who may experience difficulties accessing and participating in our fitness to practise processes; - improve the experience of individuals who would benefit from support advocacy to engage with the GMC; - support more effective and meaningful interactions with individuals who may be vulnerable or have additional communication needs; - Support the needs of individuals who may require additional communication support as an adjustment in line with the Equality Act 2010.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2a23edef-37e4-4e6c-b99c-0f5261435d96 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Mar 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 1 Apr 2025 |
| Contract period | 3 Apr 2025 - 3 Apr 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £130,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £130,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL (GMC) |
| Locality | MANCHESTER |
| Post town | Manchester |
| Postcode | M3 3AW |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD33 Manchester |
| Local authority | Manchester |
| Electoral ward | Deansgate |
| Westminster constituency | Manchester Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | POHWER |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
- 85300000 - Social work and related services

## Release History

- 20 Jan 2026 at 17:45 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2a23edef-37e4-4e6c-b99c-0f5261435d96

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2a23edef-37e4-4e6c-b99c-0f5261435d96
  20th January 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JAN170880
  NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at the link provided.

## Notice URLs

- http://www.gmc-uk.org

## Provenance

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