Stimulating the SME Apprenticeship and T Level Market

Descriptions

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to inform the market of a forthcoming market engagement event related to a potential upcoming procurement. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), are seeking to procure outcome driven plans from intermediaries/partners and partnerships to build on the existing levels of awareness and business benefits amongst Employers and to stimulate and encourage new or renewed participation in Apprenticeships and T Level Industry placements within the Small and Medium Sized Employer (SME) landscape. This focus on SMEs and the new starts created will increase the economic value of skills being supplied by the post 16 system and these improved skills will lead to increased productivity, social mobility and will support economic recovery. The ESFA will be undertaking an online market engagement event at 11.00am on 7th September 2021 for interested parties. The event is anticipated to last approximately 90 minutes and will give interested parties an understanding of the aims of the procurement. The procurement is expected to commence in November 2021 with contract(s) awarded by April 2022. Further information on the procurement process will be provided at the market engagement event. If you wish to register to attend the event, please use the link found in the links section entitled: Register to attend market engagement event - 7th September 2021 This Early Engagement Notice is for information and engaging with the supply market only. It is not a binding statement of intent or call for competition. The ESFA reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not award contract(s). The information contained in this notice, including information relating to the nature and scope of the authority's requirements, the service classification of this requirement from the list of CPV codes, is only indicative of the authority's current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding. The ESFA reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time. The ESFA will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work or effort incurred by a provider in acting on the basis of this PIN.