Procurement

Preliminary market engagement notice - National Centre for Arts and Music Education

Department for Education

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-052863

Description

On 18 March, the Secretary of State for Education announced* that young people across the country will have greater access to high-quality arts education and wider creative opportunities as part of the wider mission to break down barriers and ensure every child can achieve and thrive.

This will be achieved through the development of a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education that will support the delivery of high-quality arts education in subjects such as art and design, dance, drama and music. It will do this through: a new online training offer for teachers, promoting opportunities for children and young people to pursue their artistic and creative interests in school; and by boosting partnerships between schools and cultural providers. The National Centre will also become national deliver partner for the existing Music Hubs programme.

The Department will be seeking organisations with the capacity and experience to implement and start delivering quickly on this programme.

The ITT is now due to be published before the end of the calendar year with a 10-week period for bids to be submitted. The intention remains for the National Centre to be established in September 2026, with a phased work programme to be agreed with the successful bidder.

The purpose of this engagement notice is to notify organisations of the Department's intention to establish the National Centre and to enable interested parties, including prospective bidders, to sign up for one of three 60-minute online information events as follows:

• Thursday 19 June 2025 at 1pm

• Monday 23 June 2025 at 10.30am

• Tuesday 1 July 2025 at 2pm

Information regarding these sessions will be available to those who register their interest on our e-tendering portal Jaggaer, https://education.app.jaggaer.com under ref. ssq_587 - Market Engagement - National Centre for Arts and Music Education.

It is also mandatory for any interested suppliers to register on the new CENTRAL DIGITAL PLATFORM which is part of the enhanced Find a Tender Service.

This procurement will be progressed using the Open procedure under the Procurement Act 2023.

This is a zero-value notice for early market engagement and is not a call for competition. The Department for Education reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award.

*https://www.gov.uk/government/news/young-people-to-benefit-from-creative-education-boost

Notices

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-011151
Published: 6 February 2026, 4:41pm

Show all versions

UK3: Planned procurement notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-011134
Published: 6 February 2026, 4:21pm