Published date: 31 January 2025

This notice was replaced on 31 January 2025

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Early engagement (published 31 January 2025, last edited 31 January 2025)

Closed early engagement


Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

Any region, North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West

Procurement reference

tender_479290/1446539

Published date

31 January 2025

Closing date

31 March 2025

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The Department for Education (DfE) is considering the introduction of a regional structure to the existing T Level Ambassadors Network (TAN) to support the growth of T Levels across England.

T Levels are two year technical education courses at level 3 for 16-19 year olds. Launched in 2020, they were developed based on standards designed with employers to meet their skills needs. Equivalent in size to 3 A levels, a T Level focuses on technical and practical skills and can help students into skilled employment, further study or apprenticeships.

Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts a minimum of 315 hours, or at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace while employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.

The T Level ambassador network plays an important role raising the profile of T Levels. It has over 800 ambassadors, made up of employers, providers, students, universities and other organisations. Members volunteer their time to share their experience and champion the benefits of T Levels.


Vision:

The DfE wishes to explore how to realise the potential of this successful and growing network by introducing a regional substructure with dedicated resource to support and co-ordinate activity. The national overarching network will continue to provide strategic direction, quality and consistency. Establishing North, Midlands and South sub networks will allow the DfE to expand the network's reach and maximise engagement and impact on a regional level.



Desired outcomes include:

Increase the effectiveness and reach of the network by carrying out regional strategy and delivery plans with dedicated resource to co-ordinate activity and support ambassadors

Form the backbone of regional and local employer engagement about T Levels

Supporting and co-ordinating the ambassadors to participate in and influence regionally specific conversations about skills needs

Regional activity is aligned to the national network strategy set by the network leadership

Create the opportunity to address T Level route and sector specific challenges in the future 

Create local networks and develop sustainable relationships


The aims of this early market engagement are to :

Share information around the T Level Ambassadors Network and the proposal to improve and grow the network.

Gauge interest in providing a service of co-ordination and support for the regional sub-networks

Gather views about the opportunities and limitations of choosing this approach to the management of the T Level Ambassadors Network

Understand how this regional co-ordination and support could be achieved from the perspective of potential delivery partners, and whether there are alternative models the DfE should consider

Gather views about commercial arrangements.


DfE will be hosting an open, virtual market engagement event on Tuesday 4th March 2025 from 11-12. via a Microsoft Teams Webinar.

More information

Links

Additional text

Registered attendees will join the webinar with their cameras and mics off. They can participate via chat, reactions and Q&A and a Supplier Feedback Questionnaire will be distributed after the event to gather feedback on the propositions.

Please note this is not a call for competition and does not commit us to procuring or procuring services in specific ways, and any future opportunities are subject to budget decisions and availability.

About the buyer

Contact name

Department for Education

Address

Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Email

CommercialDelivery.SKILLS@education.gov.uk