---
title: "Social Worker Level 6 Apprenticeship Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05ad28"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05ad28"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ad28.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ad28.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "BRIGHTON AND HOVE CITY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-10-10"
---

# Social Worker Level 6 Apprenticeship Programme

Buyer: BRIGHTON AND HOVE CITY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05ad28

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## Summary

The recent public procurement process, overseen by Brighton and Hove City Council, pertains to the "Social Worker Level 6 Apprenticeship Programme". It targets the social work and health services industry and is situated in Hove, East Sussex, UK. The contracting process has reached the Award stage, with the contract being awarded to Brighton University on 22nd July 2025. The programme, which utilises funds from the apprenticeship levy, is set to commence on 1st September 2025 and conclude on 1st September 2028. The procurement method employed was direct, below the threshold, without competition, leveraging a special regime termed "light touch". This approach ensures optimal use of available funds to support local staff upskilling.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for business growth, particularly for educational and training institutions specialising in apprenticeship programmes. Businesses that are adept at delivering high-quality vocational training and can offer flexible learning pathways stand to gain. By providing both a Level 6 BSc and a Level 7 MSc pathway within the apprenticeship, the programme caters to diverse educational needs and supports long-term career progression for social work candidates. Companies engaged in similar educational endeavours with proven expertise in apprentice programme delivery would be well-suited to compete in subsequent procurement opportunities of this nature, potentially by proposing similar innovative and cost-efficient solutions for government contracts.

## Notice

The funding for the Social Worker apprenticeship training costs will come from the apprenticeship levy pot rather than a service budget. This levy is an accumulation of 0.5% of the councils pay bill paid into this government levy pot every month. It currently stands at PS2.8m and can only be spent on apprenticeship training. Monies not spent within 24 months will automatically expire. The cost of the social worker apprenticeship training would be paid from the levy and will help minimise funds expiring so it would be prudent for the Council to enter into a contract as soon as possible for the next available term date which is September 2025. There is a set funding band for each individual apprenticeship and for the Social Worker apprenticeship it is set at 24k. The standard programme includes the Level 6 BSc in Social Work. However, the University of Brighton are the only local provider offering the opportunity to gain a level 7 MSc Social Work Degree for those with a first degree whilst also studying the apprenticeship in Social Work at level 6. This is at a reduced duration of 2 years rather than 3 years so a significant reduction for both the learner, and the service. This will be reduced in price accordingly and offered at PS19,677 pp so saving the council PS4,323 pp from the levy pot for those taking this route. If the Council were to support staff to qualify outside of the apprenticeship route this would cost between PS15,700 and PS28,605 per apprentice depending on the qualification and this would be payable from council budgets rather than the levy pot so a total saving of PS90,000-PS171,000. By offering both the level 6 BSc (3years) and level 7 MSc (2years) pathways within the apprenticeship, the Council are offering maximum flexibility and the most efficient route to qualify and will satisfy our people promise in giving staff the opportunity to do their best and promotes our responsibility in offering progression and wider opportunities to our staff supporting the following aims: 1. Recruiting and rewarding well, with flexible paths for progression 2. Great performance supported by the right development It is also supporting the local area so not only minimising travel costs and carbon footprint but is keeping funding within the city. The University of Brighton are an approved provider on our Supplier List, have a "Good" Ofsted rating, an "Excellent" 4* apprentice rating and "Good" 3* employer rating on the Institute for Apprenticeships website and an 89% achievement rate. The contract will be monitored by the Apprenticeship Team through * Bi-monthly progress updates * Bi-monthly contract meetings with UoB * Quality feedback reviews In summary, offering local provision for the Social Worker Level 6 programme who offer flexibility of both L6 and L7 pathways with proven quality of delivery will ensure maximum support and accessibility for our staff to upskill to become social work qualified. It will help address the shortage of qualified Social Workers, maximising savings for the Council and ensuring optimal usage of the apprenticeship levy funds.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064347-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Oct 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Jul 2025 |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2025 - 1 Sep 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £144,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BRIGHTON AND HOVE CITY COUNCIL |
| Locality | HOVE |
| Post town | Brighton |
| Postcode | BN3 3BQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex |
| ITL 3 | TLJ21 Brighton and Hove |
| Local authority | Brighton and Hove |
| Electoral ward | Central Hove |
| Westminster constituency | Hove and Portslade |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services
- 85300000 - Social work and related services

## Release History

- 10 Oct 2025 at 15:28 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064347-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064347-2025
  10th October 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-05ad28. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ad28.json.