--- title: "Apprentice Worker Agency" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077ab6" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077ab6" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077ab6.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077ab6.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "NORTHUMBRIAN WATER LIMITED" published: "2026-09-29" --- # Apprentice Worker Agency Buyer: NORTHUMBRIAN WATER LIMITED Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077ab6 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077ab6) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077ab6.json) ## Summary Northumbrian Water Limited is seeking an apprenticeship agency service for Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water. The supplier will employ apprentices on the group’s behalf and handle employment contracts, payroll and statutory payments, HR administration, employment records, compliance, welfare support, progress reviews and reporting. The service also includes onboarding and mobilisation, liaison with training providers, and support for apprentices and managers. Its purpose is to provide a compliant employment service, support apprentice retention and successful programme completion, and help develop future talent. Delivery is across the group’s North East and Essex & Suffolk operating areas. This is a human resources and personnel supply service, including apprentice employment and administration. The buyer invited offers through a competitive flexible procedure with a staged selection process. Expressions of interest were due by 28 October 2026 at 23:59, and conditions of participation by 2 November 2026 at 14:00; proposals were scheduled to close on 17 December 2026. The single lot has an estimated value of £24,479,974.98 excluding VAT (£29,375,969.98 including VAT). The initial contract period runs from 1 June 2027 to 31 May 2029, with possible extensions to 31 May 2035 if service levels and supplier performance are sufficient. Price accounts for 60% of evaluation (55% commission and 5% apprentice landing fee), and quality for 40%. Up to four suppliers scoring at least 60% at the participation stage progress to proposal stage. The requirement suits suppliers with established apprenticeship agency or workforce services, strong knowledge of apprenticeship funding rules and employment legislation, and the capacity to act as employer for apprentices across multiple operating areas. Suppliers need dependable payroll and statutory payment processes, employment and HR administration, employee relations expertise, and systems for accurate management information and performance reporting. The service also calls for effective apprentice welfare and retention support, regular progress monitoring, onboarding capability, and collaborative working with an early careers team, hiring managers and training providers. The indicative workforce plan anticipates around 72–77 apprentices in the first programme year and 77 in each following year, across an eight-year planning horizon; actual recruitment will depend on organisational needs and budgets. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable to compete. ## Notice Northumbrian Water Group (NWL) is committed to developing future talent through a high-quality apprenticeship programme which supports workforce planning, succession management and skills development across the organisation. We require a supplier to provide Apprenticeship Agency Services across both Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water. The supplier will act as the employer of apprentices on behalf of NWL and provide employment, payroll, HR administration, compliance and apprentice support services throughout the duration of the apprenticeship programme. The successful supplier will work collaboratively with NWL's Early Careers Team, hiring managers and training providers to ensure apprentices receive a positive experience and are supported to successfully complete their programmes. Service Requirements The supplier will be required to: * Employ apprentices on behalf of NWL through an apprenticeship agency model. * Issue and maintain employment contracts and associated employment documentation. * Undertake payroll administration and statutory payments. * Manage apprentice employment records. * Provide HR guidance and employee relations support relating to apprentices. * Ensure compliance with apprenticeship funding rules and employment legislation. * Support apprentice wellbeing and welfare. * Conduct regular reviews and progress monitoring with apprentices. * Liaise with apprenticeship training providers where required. * Provide management information and performance reporting. * Support mobilisation and onboarding of new apprentices. * Deliver services across both the Northeast and Essex & Suffolk operating areas. The supplier must demonstrate excellent customer service, strong apprenticeship sector knowledge and the ability to support the continued growth of NWL's apprenticeship programme. Objectives The objectives of this contract are to: * Provide a compliant and effective apprenticeship employment service. * Deliver a positive apprentice experience. * Support apprentice retention and successful completion rates. * Ensure consistent support for apprentices and managers. * Provide accurate and timely payroll and administration services. * Deliver robust reporting and management information. * Support NWL's commitment to early careers and future talent development. INDICATIVE APPRENTICE NUMBERS FROM 2027 The indicative apprentice numbers set out in the table below are based on the workforce planning volumes agreed for 2026 and are provided to give potential suppliers an indication of the anticipated scale of apprenticeship delivery. These figures are estimates only and do not represent a commitment or guarantee of recruitment. The actual number of apprentices employed and enrolled onto apprenticeship programmes will be determined by organisational requirements, workforce planning priorities, budget availability and prevailing business needs. Consequently, the final volumes may be higher or lower than those indicated. yr 1 1st June 27 - 31st May 28 72-77 yr2 1st June 28 - 31st May 29 77 yr3 1st June 29 - 31st May 30 77 yr4 1st June 30 - 31st May 31 77 yr5 1st June 31 - 31st May 32 77 yr6 1st June 32 - 31st May 33 77 yr7 1st June 33 - 31st May 34 77 yr8 1st June 34 - 31st May 35 77 A full scope document has been made available within this FTS ### Lot Information Lot 1 Renewal: If SLA's are maintained and vendor performance sufficient then extensions will be offered ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091685-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 29 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Jun 2027 - 31 May 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £24,479,974 | | Lots value | £24,479,974 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NORTHUMBRIAN WATER LIMITED | | Locality | PITY ME | | Postcode area | Durham | | Postcode | DH1 5FJ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham | | Local authority | County Durham | | Electoral ward | Framwellgate & Newton Hall | | Westminster constituency | City of Durham | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLE2 North Yorkshire, TLH14 Suffolk CC, TLH3 Essex | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79414000 - Human resources management consultancy services - 79620000 - Supply services of personnel including temporary staff ## Release History - 29 Sep 2026 at 10:13 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091685-2026 - 25 Sep 2026 at 14:34 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091052-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091685-2026 29th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091052-2026 25th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-23060 ## Notice URLs - https://s1.ariba.com - 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-077ab6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077ab6.json.