The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have launched a market testing exercise prior to formally launching the process in January 2019 to
procure devolved Adult Education Budget (AEB) delivery from 1 August 2019.
The purpose of the market testing exercise will be to research the market in order to assist WMCA in drafting the specification and approach of the wider procurement process.
The annual value to be procured will be around £25m annually. AEB provision procured through the process will:
- provide residents who have not yet got the basic skills and qualifications needed to enable them to enter the work place or to be active members of their local communities.
- enable more unemployed people to access sustainable employment which pays enough to enable them to no longer be dependent upon state benefits.
- improve the skills and resilience of those employed in lower skilled jobs who are at risk of becoming increasingly limited in their future employment/career opportunities
- enable greater levels of achievement at Level 2, as this provides the catalyst in many cases to progressing into an apprenticeship or further learning.
- increase in the number of Level 3 and 4 qualifications being achieved in priority sectors, as the demand for higher level skills within the West Midlands grows.
The Combined Authority is holding a “meet the buyer” event on 30 November 2018. Providers can register to attend the event on Eventbrite.
The Prior Information Notice can be found on the Contracts Finder website, whilst further details about the market testing can be found on the WMCA Bravo portal .
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you require support with submitting a tender to deliver AEB in the West Midlands Combined Authority area.