---
title: "Temporary Hospitality, Catering and Events Staff for ACE"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0596b2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0596b2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0596b2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0596b2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH"
published: "2026-07-21"
---

# Temporary Hospitality, Catering and Events Staff for ACE

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0596b2

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## Summary

The University of Edinburgh has successfully completed the awarding stage of its tender for "Temporary Hospitality, Catering and Events Staff for ACE" within the services industry. This procurement process aimed to establish a framework agreement through an open procedure to source temporary staffing solutions to support the University's Accommodation, Catering and Events (ACE) services across Edinburgh (region UKM75). The project encompasses multiple lots such as "Hospitality and Events", "Domestic Services", and "Kitchen Staff," with a potential contract duration of up to four years, including possible extensions. The tender was initially active in a planning phase that began in 2025, with submissions closing on October 10, 2025, and the latest contracts were signed on July 6, 2026, marking the completion of the award stage.

This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities for staffing agencies capable of providing high-quality temporary personnel capable of meeting surges in demand. With a total framework value of £3.6 million, suppliers that can deliver a diverse range of staffing resources swiftly and efficiently are well-positioned to benefit. The procurement specifies a significant weighting towards quality in its technical evaluation criteria, appealing to businesses with robust track records in providing exceptional staffing solutions. SMEs like Navolio Limited T/A Off To Work and Brightwork, as well as larger entities such as Blue Arrow and Reed Recruitment, were selected as suppliers, illustrating the potential for businesses of varying scales to engage and thrive under this framework.

## Notice

The University's Accommodation, Catering and Events (ACE) service operates a range of essential catering facilities that support students, staff, visitors and commercial activities across the University. To ensure continuity of these critical services, the University supplements its permanent workforce with temporary agency staff during periods of increased demand, seasonal peaks, planned events and where unforeseen staffing shortages arise. Agency workers are engaged only where the existing permanent workforce is insufficient to meet operational requirements, helping to maintain service continuity, customer experience and contractual commitments. The purpose of this procurement is to establish a Framework Agreement with suitably experienced staffing providers that have the capacity and capability to supply high-quality catering personnel at short notice, as and when required. The Framework value is indicative and non-committal. This project is looking to establish a new framework agreement with suppliers who have the resource and capacity to work with the University to provide catering staffing resources as and when required.

### Lot Information

Kitchen Staff

ACE operates across the city of Edinburgh. There are multiple venues and location across this wide geographical area, where agency staff will be required to attend for work. All locations may require staff at any one date and time. The volume and type of staff required will be dependent on business needs. Historical data highlights the roles where the highest volume of staff is required are: - Head Chef - Rare but maybe required for interim periods of up to 3 months; - Chef - estimate of up to 10+ on busier days; - Kitchen Assistants - estimate 15 + on very busy days; and - Kitchen Porter - estimate of up to 5+ on busier days. Please be aware that these figures are given in good faith but may not be representative of future demand.

Options: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Renewal: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Hospitality and Events

ACE operates across the city of Edinburgh. There are multiple venues and location across this wide geographical area, where agency staff will be required to attend for work. All locations may require staff at any one date and time. The volume and type of staff required will be dependent on business needs. Historical data highlights the roles where the highest volume of staff is required are: - Catering Assistants - estimate 15+ on very busy days; and - Plate Waiters/Silver Service Staff - estimate 50+ on very busy days. Please be aware that these figures are given in good faith but may not be representative of future demand.

Options: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Renewal: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Domestic Services

ACE operates across the city of Edinburgh. There are multiple venues and location across this wide geographical area, where agency staff will be required to attend for work. All locations may require staff at any one date and time. The volume and type of staff required will be dependent on business needs. Historical data highlights the roles where the highest volume of staff is required are: - Hotel Bedroom Attendants; - Hotel Public Area Cleaners - Student Property Domestic Cleaning Staff

Options: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

Renewal: One extension period of 24 months will be available for use at the University's discretion, meaning a potential contract duration of 48 months, or four years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068698-2026 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Oct 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 5 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,600,000 |
| Lots value | £3,600,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £3,600,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH1 1HT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 6 |
| Supplier names | AXIS RECRUITMENT; BLUE ARROW; BRIGHTWORK; NAVOLIO LIMITED T/A OFF TO WORK; REED RECRUITMENT; SEARCH CONSULTANCY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79620000 - Supply services of personnel including temporary staff

## Release History

- 21 Jul 2026 at 12:22 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068698-2026
- 9 Sep 2025 at 12:40 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055018-2025

## Notice URLs

- http://www.ed.ac.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000809078
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00107
- https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html?VISITORID=b00bf88c-8f28-485d-87cf-5a33b56e5fa8&VISITORID=b00bf88c-8f28-485d-87cf-5a33b56e5fa8

## 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-0596b2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0596b2.json.