West Yorkshire Adult Skills DPS

Provision of adult skills training and commissioned activities to support individuals to gain the skills needed for life and work, including : progressing towards, entering into and sustaining work; upskilling or retraining in order to advance their career.

The existing Adult Education Budget DPS is to be closed and phased out and replaced by this new DPS which will bring together future funding opportunities for providers via one Adult Skills DPS.

Although we do not intend to use Lots to divide the DPS we may use filters based on specific categories such as geographical location or requirement and specialisms.

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) for the West Yorkshire area was devolved to WYCA for delivery in from August 2021. In 2021 additional skills funding was delegated from the Department of Education (DfE) to the WYCA. This funding comprises of 'Free Courses For Jobs' and ‘Skills Bootcamp' funding. We have also received funding through the UKSPF to deliver the Government's 'Multiply' programme - an adult numeracy maths focussed programme.

The creation of the Adult Skills DPS will align priorities across funding streams and projects, providing the ability to join up the skills and training offer, reduce duplication and make sure we are reaching those communities most disadvantaged.

Tender opportunities will be available for service providers to focus on adult skills deficits and provide cost effective and impactful training solutions. Requirements across multiple Adult Skills Programmes and funding streams will be procured from the DPS, including the devolved Adult Education Budget, Free Courses for Jobs, Multiply, Skills Bootcamps, and the locally designed re-training and upskilling programmes (e.g. Skills Connect) and future devolved funds and delegated programmes. The intention of the DPS is to be solution focused on adult skills needs, rather than programme led.

This PIN is to allow WYCA to undertake market engagement in preparation for the procurement process anticipated to commence in August 2023, with marketing engagement sessions planned to take place in June and July 2023. This PIN notice does not signify the commencement of any call for competition process and does not constitute any commitment by WYCA.

WYCA intend to run a supplier engagement session on 16th June at 10.30am to run through our intended approach to the new DPS in more detail and to allow suppliers to ask questions and provide feedback.

To join the supplier engagement session please email [email protected].

Please quote the name of this engagement opportunity in your email title as follows:

West Yorkshire Adult Skills DPS- Supplier Engagement Session 16th June 10.30am