Skills for Growth Light Touch Open Framework
Devon County Council · Local authority
In brief
Devon County Council awarded training and education work to South Devon College, Apricot Centre CIC and Complete Training (Devon) Ltd and 64 others on 13 July 2026.
It is a framework worth up to £120,000,000 including VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.
The contract runs for 3 years, up to 5 years with extensions, starting 13 July 2026.
It is split into 3 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.
The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
What the notice says
Lots
| Lot | Trade | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Skills Fund(ASF) and Free Courses For Jobs (FCFJ) 13 July 2026 to 12 July 2029 What this lot coversASF is a core funding stream provided by the Department for Working Pensions (DWP), designed to support adult learners, aged 19+ in Devon and Torbay, in gaining essential skills and qualifications that are up to Level 2, with some Level 3 qualifications for those aged 19 - 23, to improve employability, career progression, and participation in the workforce. This includes GCSEs, awards, certificates, and diplomas in vocational and technical subjects, and qualifications in English, Maths, and Digital. FCFJ are targeted Level 3 qualifications, to support adults, aged 19+ in Devon and Torbay, who meet the definition of unemployed or below the earnings threshold, to develop new skills to improve their prospects in the labour market. In accordance with Department for Education (DfE) and DWP funding rules, providers must have ASF provision to be eligible to deliver FCFJ provision. | Training, Education services | £75,000,000 |
| Skills Bootcamp 13 July 2026 to 12 July 2029 What this lot coversSkills Bootcamps funded by DWP ,are short, intensive training courses (typically 8-16 weeks) focused on priority sectors and technical skills. They are employer-led, designed to fill immediate skills gaps, and must include guaranteed job interviews for participants or increased contracts for self-employed learners. | Training, Education services | £35,000,000 |
| Future Skills Projects 13 July 2026 to 12 July 2029 What this lot coversTo ensure long-term flexibility and responsiveness, the framework will also be available for commissioning provision for any new future skills projects in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth. | Training, Education services | £10,000,000 |
Who won
Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.
Timeline
- Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 083212-2025
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 083978-2025
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 084063-2025
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 084070-2025
- Planned procurement notice · UK3, notice 014536-2026
- Tender notice · UK4, notice 023151-2026
- Contract award notice · UK6, notice 061825-2026
- Contract details notice · UK7, notice 093449-2026
Last time this was bought
- Won by
- Network Healthcare Professionals Limited, Field Studies Council, Sport Works Limited, Plymouth Argyle Football in the Community Trust and 27 more
- Awarded
- 3 November 2026
- Value
- Not stated, or split across lots
- Contract ends
- 11 February 2027
Matched on Devon County Council, the type of work and the title; it may be a related contract rather than the same one. Check the notice to be sure.
About the buyer
Procurements
117Awards
90Suppliers it has used most for training
- Eat That Frog C.I.C.4 contracts
- Plymouth City Council3 contracts
- elite Training Services (London) Limited3 contracts
- Aim 2 Learn Ltd2 contracts
- Blue Screen IT Limited2 contracts
Similar open tenders
All open training tenders- £15kestimated
- £7.5mestimated
- £1.27mframework ceiling
- £90kestimated
- £7.75mestimated
From notice 083212-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 16 December 2025, last updated 2 October 2026. We last checked for changes on 2 October 2026.