---
title: "Higher Education Provider - Step Up to Social Work"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04e952"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e952"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e952.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e952.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "STOKE ON TRENT CITY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-09-12"
---

# Higher Education Provider - Step Up to Social Work

Buyer: STOKE ON TRENT CITY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04e952

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e952)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e952.json)

## Summary

The procurement process for the contract titled "Higher Education Provider - Step Up to Social Work" is being led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, in collaboration with various local authorities across the West Midlands. The tender is aimed at selecting a Higher Education Institution to deliver a 14-month full-time programme funded by the Department for Education. This contract focuses on providing students with a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work upon completion. Notably, the tender process was initiated using an open procedure with an estimated contract value of 1,542,858 GBP (gross value of 1,864,800 GBP), commencing on 6 June 2025 and concluding on 5 December 2028. The procurement stages include planning, tender, and award, indicating a completed status on 12 September 2025. The award was granted to THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, ensuring delivery across the UKG region within the specified timeframe.

This tender represents a substantial opportunity for businesses in the higher education sector, particularly those specialising in social work programmes. The procurement method used, an open procedure, encourages broad participation and engagement from eligible Higher Education Institutions. Businesses capable of delivering high-quality education services and adult education services would find this tender highly appealing. Additionally, the focus on social work and administrative competencies aligns with institutions that have established programmes in these areas. The tender is well-suited for established institutions with a proven track record in delivering postgraduate diplomas and those capable of meeting strict quality and professional standards criteria, thus providing a significant growth opportunity in the education services sector.

## Notice

Funded by the Department for Education (DfE) Step up to Social Work is an intensive, 14-month, full-time programme. On completion, students will qualify with a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. A Higher Education Institution (HEI) is required for delivery of the programme. Students are selected from across the West Midlands. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is the lead authority for this service, working in partnership with local authorities across the West Midlands

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056111-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 9 Apr 2025 |
| Future notice date | 6 Mar 2025 |
| Award date | 5 May 2025 |
| Contract period | 5 Jun 2025 - 5 Dec 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,540,000 |
| Lots value | £1,540,000 |
| Awards value | £1,671,858 |
| Contracts value | £1,671,858 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | STOKE ON TRENT CITY COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN'S TRUST COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY; BOROUGH OF TELFORD & WREKIN; COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL; DUDLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL; HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL; SANDWELL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL; SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL; SOLIHULL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL; STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL; WALSALL COUNCIL; WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | STOKE-ON-TRENT |
| Post town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Postcode | ST4 1HH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire |
| ITL 3 | TLG12 Worcestershire CC |
| Local authority | Worcester |
| Electoral ward | Nunnery |
| Westminster constituency | Worcester |
| Delivery location | TLG West Midlands (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80300000 - Higher education services
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services

## Release History

- 12 Sep 2025 at 10:42 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056111-2025
- 6 May 2025 at 14:46 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019170-2025
- 11 Mar 2025 at 09:55 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008652-2025
- 4 Mar 2025 at 12:37 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007836-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056111-2025
  12th September 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019170-2025
  6th May 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008652-2025
  11th March 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007836-2025
  4th March 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.birmingham.ac.uk
- https://procontract.due-north.com/Procurer/Advert/View?advertId=8a79a783-f0f8-ef11-8136-005056b64545&fromAdvertEvent=True
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk
- https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e952. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e952.json.