---
title: "Innovation Skills Framework Critical Friend"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05e11e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05e11e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e11e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e11e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION"
published: "2025-11-14"
---

# Innovation Skills Framework Critical Friend

Buyer: UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05e11e

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## Summary

UK Research and Innovation, located in Swindon, undertook a procurement process titled "Innovation Skills Framework Critical Friend" in the services industry category, specifically focusing on research and development services. The contracting authority completed the award stage on 14th November 2025. This was a limited competition procurement under the procurement method category "Below threshold - limited competition." The contract period commenced on 3rd November 2025 and is set to conclude on 31st March 2026, with a total gross value of £23,892. The procurement process was managed by UK Shared Business Services Ltd, also based in Swindon.

This tender offers business growth opportunities by engaging with public authorities, especially for businesses specialising in consulting and research services related to innovation skills frameworks. Companies that act as independent learning partners can leverage this contract to build their portfolio within the public sector. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with a niche in providing critical feedback and advisory services during pilot programmes will find this procurement particularly beneficial, exemplified by the involvement of the Innovation Growth Lab at Nesta, a supplier involved in this contract.

## Notice

***** THIS IS A CONTRACT DETAILS NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This procurement is being concluded following a limited competition procurement exercise. Innovate UK wishes to appoint a supplier to act as a critical friend and independent learning partner throughout the Innovation Skills Framework (ISF) pilot.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073840-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - limited competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Nov 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 28 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | 3 Nov 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £19,910 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION |
| Additional buyers | UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LTD |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | INNOVATION GROWTH LAB AT NESTA |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 14 Nov 2025 at 10:26 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073840-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073840-2025
  14th November 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-05e11e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e11e.json.