--- title: "UKRI-4863 National STEM Ambassadors programme" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-065ee2" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065ee2" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065ee2.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065ee2.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI)" published: "2026-02-27" --- # UKRI-4863 National STEM Ambassadors programme Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI) Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-065ee2 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065ee2) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065ee2.json) ## Summary UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is setting the stage for a national procurement initiative titled "UKRI-4863 National STEM Ambassors programme." This programme aims to renew the delivery and focus on the UK's largest STEM engagement initiative for young people aged 5-19, spanning from 1st October 2026 to 30th September 2032. Classified under business and management consultancy services, this tender falls within the services industry category. Located in Swindon, Wiltshire, UKRI heads the process as the central government authority. Currently in the planning stage with a market engagement webinar scheduled for 16th March 2026, stakeholders can gain insights into the programme and the procurement process. The expected communication of a future notice date is set for 27th April 2026, indicating readiness for forthcoming procurement stages. This procurement offers a lucrative opportunity, with a budget of £25.5 million gross value, for businesses engaged in consultancy services, particularly those focused on STEM and education. With specific interest in SME and VCSE organisations, the tender is apt for businesses equipped to handle program development and youth engagement activities. Through five distinct work packages addressing recruitment, stakeholder engagement, innovative interventions, programme evaluation, and sector networking, suitable businesses can foster substantial growth. It particularly appeals to companies experienced in cultivating initiatives that engage young people from underrepresented backgrounds, as well as those capable of scaling and evaluating educational programmes on a national level. ## Notice UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is seeking a new supplier to continue the delivery of the STEM Ambassadors programme. UKRI wants to maintain the focus on STEM in this new contract whilst also piloting activities to build further on the existing focus of the programme. The STEM Ambassadors programme is an established, recognisable national programme that supports the UK Government in its ambitions to support young people to develop STEM skills and consider career opportunities in the STEM sector by connecting them with Ambassadors that work in the sector. It is the UK's largest STEM engagement programme for young people aged 5-19. The main priorities of the renewed programme will be to: - maintain its effectiveness as a national STEM volunteering infrastructure. - implement changes that improve the delivery and coordination of the programme - improve the programme's recruitment of Ambassadors from universities and academic research organisations - design, develop and implement targeted, innovative interventions that focus on young people from minoritised and underrepresented groups that have potential to be scaled up in local schools and non-school organisations (such as youth and community groups and cultural organisations such as art galleries and museums). - evaluate the effectiveness of the programme and targeted interventions. UKRI wants the programme to achieve the following objectives: 1. Support the development and growth of the STEM skills required for working within STEM. 2. To introduce and connect young people with the range of careers in STEM and challenge perceptions of what STEM is and who can work in STEM sectors. 3. To inspire young people and build their trust and understanding of STEM. The supplier will deliver these objectives through the following five work packages: * Work package 1: STEM Ambassador recruitment, induction, support and training * Work package 2: Employer and schools engagement and support * Work package 3: Coordinated UK wide activity at national and regional levels * Work package 4: Design, development, piloting and scaling of interventions targeting young people from underrepresented and minoritised groups * Work package 5: Monitoring and evaluation of programme and targeted interventions * Work package 6: Convening sector, network building and communications The programme will be delivered from 1st October 2026 until 30th September 2032 Market Engagement Webinar: UKRI is holding a market engagement webinar on 16th March 2026 commencing at 14.00 with a presentation followed by a question and answer session. This webinar is an opportunity to learn more about the STEM Ambassadors Programme and the procurement process as well as to provide valuable feedback on the requirement. Please note that not registering an interest will not prevent any organisation from participating in any future procurement, nor will any information shared during preliminary market engagement provide an advantage in any subsequent process. To find out more information about this webinar and register your interest https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/01f75b04-c7c5-48f4-8a03-7d3b838d4675@8bb7e08e-daa4-4a8e-927e-fca38db04b7e ### Planning Information Market engagement Webinar ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018167-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 27 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 27 Apr 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 30 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2032 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £21,250,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION (UKRI) | | Locality | SWINDON, WILTSHIRE | | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services ## Release History - 27 Feb 2026 at 17:48 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018167-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018167-2026 27th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/01f75b04-c7c5-48f4-8a03-7d3b838d4675@8bb7e08e-daa4-4a8e-927e-fca38db04b7e - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.ukri.org/ ## 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-065ee2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065ee2.json.