Adult Skills Providers (EMCCA) - Prior Information Notice

In August 2025, the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) will be devolved to East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). EMCCA covers an area of 4,784 square kilometres, comprising 15 local district & borough authorities, 2 county authorities and 2 city authorities, including the two counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and the cities of Nottingham and Derby. The area has a population of 2.2m, of which 1.4 million people (63%) are of working age (16-64) .

EMCCA wishes to commission ASF with a focus on “place based activities”and our communities within the East Midlands centred on equality, aspiration and inclusivity.

The Authority intends to conduct a further competition under the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6348 Adult Skills Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to contract suppliers to deliver Adult Skills training in the EMCCA region.

Provision will be of Ofqual regulated training at Entry Level/Level 1/ Level 2 and can be:

-Across all eligible Sector Subject Areas’ with a focus on East Midlands labour market intelligence and addressing skills gaps as outlined in the Strategic Skills Plan.

-Across all East Midlands districts with a focus on areas with the lowest levels of existing prior attainment

The Further Competition will be open to suppliers who are…:

-Awarded on the RM6348-Adult Skills and Learning DPS immediately prior to the Further Competition’s publication – More information can be found at supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dps ↗

-registered with Crown Commercial Services E-Sourcing portal

-able to deliver provision in the EMCCA region (as stated during award to the DPS)

It’s anticipated that Supplier Events will be held in mid-January 2025 (these will be advertised by EMCCA separately, see In August 2025, the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) will be devolved to East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). EMCCA covers an area of 4,784 square kilometres, comprising 15 local district & borough authorities, 2 county authorities and 2 city authorities, including the two counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and the cities of Nottingham and Derby. The area has a population of 2.2m, of which 1.4 million people (63%) are of working age (16-64) .

EMCCA wishes to commission ASF with a focus on “place based activities”and our communities within the East Midlands centred on equality, aspiration and inclusivity.

The Authority intends to conduct a further competition under the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6348 Adult Skills Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to contract suppliers to deliver Adult Skills training in the EMCCA region.

Provision will be of Ofqual regulated training at Entry Level/Level 1/ Level 2 and can be:

• Across all eligible Sector Subject Areas’ with a focus on East Midlands labour market intelligence and addressing skills gaps as outlined in the Strategic Skills Plan.
• Across all East Midlands districts with a focus on areas with the lowest levels of existing prior attainment

The Further Competition will be open to suppliers who are…:

-Awarded on the RM6348-Adult Skills and Learning DPS immediately prior to the Further Competition’s publication – More information can be found at supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dps ↗

-registered with Crown Commercial Services E-Sourcing portal

-able to deliver provision in the EMCCA region (as stated during award to the DPS)

It’s anticipated that Supplier Events will be held in mid-January 2025 (these will be advertised by EMCCA separately) and the Further Competition will be published in mid to late February 2025 so suppliers who are interested in this opportunity should allow enough time to ensure they are awarded on the DPS in order to be eligible to bid to deliver services in the EMCCA region.