Aspiring Pathways Project
Planned
Key facts
- Closing date
- Monday 7 December 2026, 14:00 (UK time)
- Buyer's estimated value
- £290,000 (excl. VAT) The buyer's own estimate, not income to you.
- Clarification questions deadline
- 20 October 2026, 17:00
- Contract period
- 14 Dec 2026 to 31 Aug 2028
- Procedure
- Open procedure
- Notice type
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Decision brief
Taken from the buyer's published notice (shown as written, shortened where long). Tenderpatch has not added to or interpreted it. Always read the official documents before bidding.
- How bids will be scored
- Not stated in the notice.
- Conditions of participation (what you must show)
- None published in the notice. They may be in the tender documents.
- Contract length and extensions
- 14 Dec 2026 to 31 Aug 2028.
- How to submit
- Not stated in the notice.
- Tender documents
- No document links in the notice. Use the official notice link.
New to public tenders? Plain-English guide to this page
- Framework
- An agreement that sets terms for work the buyer may order later, often from several suppliers. The value shown usually covers the whole agreement, not one job.
- Open for bids / closing date
- You must submit by the closing date and time, normally through the buyer's own online portal. Late bids are normally refused.
- Clarification questions
- A deadline for asking the buyer questions about the tender. It is earlier than the closing date.
- Conditions of participation
- What the buyer asks suppliers to show before they can be considered, such as experience, insurance or accreditations.
- Bids are scored on
- How the buyer will compare bids, usually a split between price and quality. A 60/40 split in favour of quality means the cheapest bid will not necessarily win.
- Lots
- A tender can be split into parts. You can often bid for only the lots that suit you.
- Area (ITL)
- The buyer names an official statistical area for where the work is, not a street address. Check the tender documents for the actual sites.
- UK4 and other notice codes
- Official codes for the type of notice. A "tender notice" means bids are being invited.
General explanations written by Tenderpatch, not part of this notice.
Description
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is preparing to commission Aspiring Pathways, a targeted programme designed to increase access to high quality and meaningful experience of the workplace for young people attending Alternative Provision settings across West Yorkshire. The purpose of this early market engagement is to raise awareness among potential providers, share our ambitions for the programme and encourage organisations to consider how their experience, expertise and partnerships could contribute to its successful delivery. Aspiring Pathways is a nationally funded programme designed to improve access to workplace experiences for young people in Alternative Provision, particularly those who may face additional barriers to progression. We are seeking a provider who can work collaboratively with 11 participating AP settings, to deliver a flexible, inclusive and progressive approach to work experience, recognising that young people in Alternative Provision will have different starting points and levels of readiness. Delivery will need include appropriate preparation and workplace-readiness activity for those not yet ready to enter a workplace, supporting young people to build confidence, skills and experience over time. The approach should be informed by the Careers & Enterprise Company’s Equalex framework, shaped around individual needs and interests, and underpinned by strong partnerships with AP settings and employers to create meaningful pathways into the world of work. Please note that this PPN is for prior information only, to inform potential suppliers of an upcoming opportunity and an engagement event for those interested in bidding. Additional Information A pre-market engagement event will be held via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 21st October from 10:00am – 11:00am. Attending will be members of the Combined Authority’s Careers & Education Team and Commercial Team. This session will give an overview of the Combined Authority’s requirements and procurement process and allow prospective bidders to ask detailed questions. To attend the session, please complete the form linked in the attached PPN document, or via the URL here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=_DvpNGbuRUOk_oBbZ-SAwPOPFfNtYt5FmXqWSs2bdjtUNjBWQU1HSU5UV05FQ01IMUcxODdHSlVGSi4u