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Published 12 Sept 2025, 13:42 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Create Talent Programme · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: North East Combined Authority (Local council)

ServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Published estimate£3,950,000≈ £1.3m / year · £3,950,000 inc. VAT · 1 value update
Submissions closed 9 Jan 2026
Next notice expected 28 Nov 2025
Contract term 3 yrsends 6 Feb 2029 · starts 6 Feb 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The 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 published
Lot #1 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£3,950,000
Contract period: 6 Feb 2026 – 6 Feb 2029 (3 yrs)Value: £3,950,000 exc. VAT · £3,950,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored
Quality: 90%Price: 10%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Quality
  • Price
What this means for your bid
  • 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)
Adult and other education services
Delivery area
North East (UKC)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059976 Find 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
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.open-uk.org ↗

Open reference number: OPEN20252060

Timeline

12 Sept 2025 → 6 Feb 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    12 Sept 2025, 13:42 BST
  2. Market engagement335 days ago
    26 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:

    www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/create-talent-mark… ↗

  3. Tender notice published334 days ago
    28 Nov 2025, 14:29 GMT
  4. Next notice expected333 days ago
    28 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
  5. Clarification questions by303 days ago
    28 Dec 2025, 17:00 GMT
  6. Submission deadline292 days ago
    9 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
  7. Contract starts264 days ago
    6 Feb 2026
  8. Award decision expected by263 days ago
    6 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT

Notice history

8 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 Sept 2025
  1. Planned procurement notice published
    12 Sept 2025, 13:42 BST
    UK3
  2. Planned procurement notice published
    12 Sept 2025, 15:29 BST
    UK3
  3. Planned procurement notice published
    13 Nov 2025, 10:51 GMT
    UK3
  4. Deadline moved to 9 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
    13 Nov 2025, 10:51 GMT
    +63 days · was 7 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
  5. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    13 Nov 2025, 10:59 GMT
    UK2
  6. Tender notice published
    28 Nov 2025, 14:29 GMT
    UK4
  7. Published value updated
    28 Nov 2025, 14:29 GMT
  8. Status changed to active
    28 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

North East Combined Authority

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PJMR-6594-BRGH The Lumen, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North East, NE4 5BZContact email

Official documents & specifications (6)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Bidding documents and specificationstenderBidding documents and specificationsDocuments available reference number OPEN20252060

Notices published for this procedure