Published date: 29 January 2021

Closed future opportunity - This means that a potential contract has passed its approach to market date. A buyer can choose to consider any supplier interest or convert this notice into an opportunity ready for live procurement.


Approach to market date: 4 June 2021

Contract summary

Industry

  • Administration, defence and social security services - 75000000

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

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

Value of contract

£3,000,000

Procurement reference

tender_263771/921621

Published date

29 January 2021

Approach to market date

4 June 2021

Contract start date

1 April 2022

Contract end date

31 March 2025

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The Department is looking to engage a provider/s to be a national delivery partner to deliver Taking Teaching Further (TTF), to support FE providers to recruit new teachers to teach in the Further Education sector. TTF is currently managed by one supplier. The service requirements include, but not limited to administration of funding, general administration, evaluation, market insight, marketing, and end to end programme management.
Programme Aims
Given the wider economic importance of FE in raising skills levels and providing a passport to opportunity for young people and adults - particularly through the successful delivery of T Levels and apprenticeships - we need sufficient numbers of highly skilled teachers in place to deliver high quality, work relevant skills training. But there is also a very real need for those teachers to possess industry expertise and excellent teaching skills. This is paramount for delivering first-rate FE teaching.
The aim of TTF is to increase the number of highly skilled teachers in place to deliver high quality, work relevant skills training by supporting FE providers to recruit and retain new teachers.
Current Provision
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) have delivered this programme through three pilot rounds, from 2018/19 to 2021/22 and a fourth round has just been announced. For further information, please see the ETF website. https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/supporting/support-teacher-recruitment/taking-teaching-further/
Planned TTF Growth
Given the current shortage of FE teachers, we are developing proposals to continue to deliver the initiative. Rounds 1 and 2 offered places for 150 teachers, and round 3 made 550 places available. Round 4 will make a further 550 places available to the sector. The size and scope of this initiative in the future is expanding in response to participant feedback but the extent of these changes is yet to be confirmed. However, based on current information, we anticipate it could be around 1,000 places in the first year, rising to 4,000 in the third year.
Market Engagement
We would like to engage with organisations that have delivered similar funding programmes. DfE invites suggestions and feedback on the proposed content and structure of the programme from the market, including industry experts, specialists and suppliers.
To participate in market engagement please email: with any suggestions and/or feedback in your email, along with the following details:
Organisation name, contact name, job title of contact (including responsibility within your organisation), contact phone number, contact email and organisation website link.
DFE are also hosting a Market Engagement event which will take place on: w/c 22nd February 2021
Location: Online due to current lockdown restrictions
If you wish to attend the event please email: HEFE.Commercial@education.gov.uk including the name of your organisation and the names of attendees by 15th February 2021.

More information

Attachments

About the buyer

Contact name

Department for Education

Address

Sanctuary Buildings
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Email

HEFE.COMMERCIAL@education.gov.uk