Official UK procurement notice
Create Talent Programme · UK public procurement notice
Authority: North East Combined Authority (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Create Talent Programme is an innovative, industry led skills programme that will support the North East's thriving creative sector, focusing on the music, arts, writing and publishing and the screen industry. The programme will play a key part in delivering the Mayor and Cabinet's mission 'Home to a growing and vibrant economy for all', providing our workforce with the right skills and training to build an inclusive and competitive economy.
The programme will provide sector-leading, inclusive and needs-led pathways for aspiring creatives, encouraging people of all ages from diverse backgrounds to aspire to a career in the creative sector. Alongside this, it will support freelancers and enterprises to develop high-level skills in creative practices. By focusing on identified skills needs and transferable skills, it will equip our freelance community with the fundamental skills to build, sustain and grow their practice as effective freelancers employed in the creative sector.
This procurement opportunity is seeking delivery partnerships led by creative industry specialists, provision must combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge and be delivered in real work environments (e.g., studios, writing hubs) alongside community venues.
In the partnership arrangement, a lead provider will be responsible for coordinating delivery across all partners, ensuring that the target number of participants is supported and that the allocated funding is utilised effectively and in line with programme objectives.
CPV: Adult and other education services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£3,950,000
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality
- Price
- Price carries 10 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 1 point. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 12 Sept 2025, 13:42 BST
- Last source update
- 28 Nov 2025, 14:29 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 6 Feb 2026
- Authority reference
OPEN20252060- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-078141- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059976Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 9 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 28 Dec 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Open reference number: OPEN20252060
Timeline
12 Sept 2025 → 6 Feb 2026 · 8 dates- Planning notice published12 Sept 2025, 13:42 BST
- Market engagement335 days ago26 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
We are pleased to invite you to a market engagement webinar introducing the upcoming Create Talent tender - a programme designed to inspire, engage, and upskill people across the North East, opening doors to opportunities in the creative sector.
What's on the agenda:
✔ Overview of the Create Talent programme
✔ Details of the upcoming tender opportunity
✔ Q&A with the commissioning team
Who should attend:
- Potential bidders and delivery partners
- Community organisations
- Sector specialists
- Creative sector employers
- Anyone passionate about supporting creative skills and employment
To register follow the link below:
- Tender notice published334 days ago28 Nov 2025, 14:29 GMT
- Next notice expected333 days ago28 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Clarification questions by303 days ago28 Dec 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Submission deadline292 days ago9 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Contract starts264 days ago6 Feb 2026
- Award decision expected by263 days ago6 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
Notice history
8 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 Sept 2025- Planned procurement notice published12 Sept 2025, 13:42 BSTUK3
- Planned procurement notice published12 Sept 2025, 15:29 BSTUK3
- Planned procurement notice published13 Nov 2025, 10:51 GMTUK3
- Deadline moved to 9 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT13 Nov 2025, 10:51 GMT+63 days · was 7 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Preliminary market engagement notice published13 Nov 2025, 10:59 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published28 Nov 2025, 14:29 GMTUK4
- Published value updated28 Nov 2025, 14:29 GMT
- Status changed to active28 Nov 2025, 14:29 GMT
Published amendments (2)
THIS NOTICE HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO A DELAY IN THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS
The Publication, Submission, Award Decision and Go Live Dates have been updated to reflect the new Procurement Timetable which will be available as part of the Tender Pack
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2025-09: 2 releases · 12 Sept 2025, 12 Sept 2025
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (6)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsDocuments available reference number OPEN20252060
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- Planned procurement notice Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender