Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Cambridgeshire County Council on behalf of the Greater Cambridge Partnership
New Shire Hall, Alconbury Weald
Huntingdon
PE28 4YE
Contact
Mr Jon Collyns
Jon.Collyns@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 7775703930
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH - East of England
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
24094 GCP Skills & Apprenticeship Service 2025
Reference number
DN741465
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This project is an opportunity to deliver key skills activities in Greater Cambridge. These
activities will fundamentally underpin the growth of the economy in one of fastest growing
areas of the UK. This project has a number of core themes (listed below) including delivering
apprenticeships and training opportunities, mentoring and careers guidance. In delivering
these activities the successful bidder will be required to work across the breadth of the
Greater Cambridge ecosystem.
The successful bidder will need work in collaboration with the Greater Cambridge
community and specifically with businesses, schools, membership organisations and other
educational establishments. The service will require a close working relationship with other
local government bodies, such as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined
Authority, to ensure joined up working and avoiding duplication of efforts.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has been funding specific skills activity across the
last ten years. Current activity, as set out in our latest reports is broadly delivering well
against its KPI’s. We want to see continued delivery in these key areas. The GCP is now
looking to expand on the success of the existing provision and provide a service with a wider
focus.
The focus of the Service will be in the following key areas:
1. Apprenticeships, training programmes and internships – promote and support young
people to secure these opportunities. Work directly with young people, educators, parents
and employers to do so. KPI’s to demonstrate numbers against 3 areas:
· Apprenticeships
· Work experience placements
· Internships
Activities to specifically focus on:
· Awareness of opportunities
· Encouraging and supporting the application process
· Signposting employers to a wide range of training providers
2. Careers Guidance Secondary Schools - offer careers and employability support to every
child at a Greater Cambridge state secondary school.
3. Careers Advice Primary Schools – Engage with all primary schools in Greater Cambridge to
support them to embed careers awareness activities into the curriculum. Including though
an annual careers fair.
4. Mentoring – Provide targeted support to children who are at risk of being NEET through
targeted mentoring arrangements.
5. Engagement with parents/carers – engage with parents/carers to inform, raise awareness
and equip them to support their young people.
6. Supporting staff – through targeted activity, support and equip staff in educational
environments with a detailed understanding of current and emerging work opportunities for
their students
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,600,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH - East of England
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This project is an opportunity to deliver key skills activities in Greater Cambridge. These
activities will fundamentally underpin the growth of the economy in one of fastest growing
areas of the UK. This project has a number of core themes (listed below) including delivering
apprenticeships and training opportunities, mentoring and careers guidance. In delivering
these activities the successful bidder will be required to work across the breadth of the
Greater Cambridge ecosystem.
The successful bidder will need work in collaboration with the Greater Cambridge
community and specifically with businesses, schools, membership organisations and other
educational establishments. The service will require a close working relationship with other
local government bodies, such as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined
Authority, to ensure joined up working and avoiding duplication of efforts.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has been funding specific skills activity across the
last ten years. Current activity, as set out in our latest reports is broadly delivering well
against its KPI’s. We want to see continued delivery in these key areas. The GCP is now
looking to expand on the success of the existing provision and provide a service with a wider
focus.
The focus of the Service will be in the following key areas:
1. Apprenticeships, training programmes and internships – promote and support young
people to secure these opportunities. Work directly with young people, educators, parents
and employers to do so. KPI’s to demonstrate numbers against 3 areas:
· Apprenticeships
· Work experience placements
· Internships
Activities to specifically focus on:
· Awareness of opportunities
· Encouraging and supporting the application process
· Signposting employers to a wide range of training providers
2. Careers Guidance Secondary Schools - offer careers and employability support to every
child at a Greater Cambridge state secondary school.
3. Careers Advice Primary Schools – Engage with all primary schools in Greater Cambridge to
support them to embed careers awareness activities into the curriculum. Including though
an annual careers fair.
4. Mentoring – Provide targeted support to children who are at risk of being NEET through
targeted mentoring arrangements.
5. Engagement with parents/carers – engage with parents/carers to inform, raise awareness
and equip them to support their young people.
6. Supporting staff – through targeted activity, support and equip staff in educational
environments with a detailed understanding of current and emerging work opportunities for
their students.
This requirement is not split into Lots, as the authority require one single provider to service
this requirement, for ease of management and to drive efficiencies.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-036169
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31 January 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Form the Future CIC
Future Business Centre, Kings Hedges Road,
Cambridge
CB4 2HY
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH - East of England
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,600,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Cambridgeshire County Council
New Shire Hall, Alconbury Weald
Huntingdon
PE28 4YE
Clare.Ellis@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom