---
title: "Boosting Apprenticeship Pathways (Employers) (SP43)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078c5e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078c5e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c5e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c5e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "North East Combined Authority"
published: "2026-10-21"
---

# Boosting Apprenticeship Pathways (Employers) (SP43)

Buyer: North East Combined Authority  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078c5e

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## Summary

North East Combined Authority commissioned an employer-focused apprenticeship engagement programme across the North East. The service is intended to increase employers’ understanding of apprenticeship pathways, funding, incentives and support, and build confidence in recruiting and developing apprentices. It also aims to strengthen links between employers, schools, colleges and apprenticeship providers, and increase the number of employers offering apprenticeship opportunities. The work includes engaging at least 25 employers in North East Ambition programmes involving targeted schools, colleges and young people. Delivery covers the North East, including the North East region and Tees Valley. The requirement combines employer engagement and communications with education and training support.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to SDN Mesma Group Ltd. The contract was signed on 20 October 2026, with an award value of £24,950 including gross value, for a period from 21 October 2026 to 31 July 2027. The authority used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition. The requirement was treated as one lot. The contractor must provide monthly monitoring returns, hold termly review meetings and report employer engagement and feedback, as well as the number of apprenticeship vacancies secured through the project. It must also produce an interim report in January or February 2027 and a final impact report in July or August 2027. The procurement data does not state an evaluation basis beyond the direct award route.

This award shows demand from North East Combined Authority for practical employer engagement that turns apprenticeship awareness into recruitment opportunities. A credible competitor for a similar requirement would need to explain apprenticeship pathways, funding and employer support clearly, build employers’ confidence to recruit, and connect businesses with schools, colleges and apprenticeship providers. The programme also requires the ability to engage employers in North East Ambition activity with targeted young people, and to track engagement, feedback and vacancies secured. Suppliers should be able to maintain regular monitoring and review arrangements and produce evidence-based interim and final impact reporting. The scope suits a provider combining apprenticeship knowledge, employer-facing communications and education-sector relationship management, with sufficient capacity to work across the North East and demonstrate measurable outcomes.

## Notice

o increase employer participation in apprenticeship programmes by raising awareness of apprenticeship opportunities, funding and support mechanisms, and by encouraging employers to recruit and develop apprentices. In addition, a minimum of 25 employers engaged with North East Ambition programmes with targeted schools, colleges and young people. The programme will: * Increase employer understanding of apprenticeship pathways. * Improve awareness of apprenticeship funding, incentives and support. * Increase employer confidence in recruiting apprentices. * Strengthen connections between employers, schools and apprenticeship providers. * Increase the number of employers offering apprenticeship opportunities. * Engage a minimum of 25 employers in North East Ambition programmes with targeted schools, colleges and young people. The contractor will provide: * Monthly monitoring returns. * Termly review meetings. * Employer engagement and feedback data. * Number of apprenticeship vacancies secured (as part of this project) * Interim report (January/February 2027). * Final impact report (July/August 2027).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099239-2026 |
| 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 | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 21 Oct 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £24,950 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | North East Combined Authority |
| Locality | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE |
| Postcode area | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Postcode | NE4 5BZ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside |
| Local authority | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Electoral ward | Arthur's Hill |
| Westminster constituency | Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SDN Enterprises Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
- 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 21 Oct 2026 at 08:38 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099239-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099239-2026
  21st October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk/
- 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-078c5e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078c5e.json.