Procurement in the Employability Sector

Procurement plays a key role in the employability sector. It shapes how training providers use their resources and services to help unemployed people find jobs. You might wonder why this matters for students and job seekers - essentially, good training procurement practices lead to better training programmes and therefore more qualified workers for key jobs!

When schools, institutions and training centres buy wisely, they can offer higher quality courses. This means they have access to the skills that employers really want. Procurement also affects how vocational schools work with businesses. Smart buying choices create stronger links between training providers and purchasing authorities.

As a training provider ourselves, Thornton & Lowe have submitted tenders for our own services as well as those of our clients. We're ideally placed to provide guidance and bid writing services for your training and employability opportunities.

Overview of Procurement in Today's Employability Sector

Procurement plays a vital role in the employability sector, it helps organisations gain access to the resources they need to run training programmes and support job seekers across the UK.

Importance of Strategic Purchasing

Strategic purchasing helps you make smart choices about what to buy and how to spend money. It means looking at the big picture and planning ahead. You need to think about what your organisation needs now and in the future. These opportunities can often take the form of a DPS, or Dynamic Purchasing Systems, where approved suppliers are grouped and selected for the contracts.

Some benefits of strategic purchasing are:

• Better value for money
• Higher quality goods and services
• Less waste and more savings
• Better relationships with suppliers

To do strategic purchasing well, you should:

• Set clear goals for what you want to achieve
• Look at different options before you buy
• Keep track of how well suppliers are doing
• Always try to improve your buying process

Strategic purchasing can help you get the best training materials, equipment, and services for your programmes.

Employability Procurement in the UK

The employability sector is all about helping people get back into work, and it's a key part of the government's 'Plan for Jobs' strategy. At the heart of this sector is the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which launches key government tenders worth billions of pounds to support people on their journey into employment.

One of the biggest programmes the DWP procures and manages is the Restart scheme. This scheme is all about giving unemployed people the support they need to find lasting jobs and build rewarding careers. It's a huge opportunity for providers who want to make a real difference in people's lives.

But the employability sector isn't just about getting people into any old job. It's about giving them the skills and training they need to succeed in the long term. That's why employability and skills go hand in hand - it's not enough to just find someone a job, you need to equip them with the tools to thrive in their new role.

For procurement professionals in this sector, it's important to understand the bigger picture. You need to know how your services fit into the wider 'Plan for Jobs' strategy, and how you can work with the DWP to deliver real results. It's not just about winning contracts, it's about creating opportunities and changing lives.

So if you're bidding for employability contracts, remember that you're part of something much bigger. You're helping to build a stronger, more resilient workforce, and giving people the chance to fulfil their potential. It's challenging work, but it's also incredibly rewarding.

Aligning Procurement with Educational Goals

When procuring employability services, you must focus on outcomes. Key considerations include:

• Industry relevance: Does the training meet employer needs?
• Learner support: Are there resources for diverse learners?
• Progression routes: Can students advance to higher qualifications?

Procurement should emphasise value, not just cost. Look for providers with:

• Strong industry links
• Up-to-date facilities and equipment
• Qualified, experienced trainers

Set clear performance targets in contracts. These might cover completion rates, job outcomes, and learner satisfaction. Regular reviews help ensure providers meet goals.

Collaboration is vital. Work with employers to shape training content. Partner with local authorities to address skills gaps in your area.

Challenges and Opportunities

The employability sector faces unique hurdles in procurement. These issues impact costs, quality, and regulatory compliance. At the same time, new technologies and sustainable practices offer exciting possibilities for improvement.

Another key challenge is compliance, due to the nature and potential environments for training delivery.

Navigating Regulatory Compliance

You must stay on top of ever-changing regulations in procurement. Government policies and industry standards can shift quickly. This makes it hard to keep processes up-to-date. Training staff on new rules takes time and money. You might need to update software systems too. Non-compliance can lead to fines or loss of funding.

But meeting regulations can also bring benefits. It builds trust with partners and students - your business (and your bids!) can stand out from competitors by showing your commitment to compliance and demonstrating this with examples.

Typical compliance authorities for employability contracts would be Ofsted, EFSA and Ofqual.

Using Technology and Innovation

New tech tools and methods of innovation can streamline your procurement processes. E-procurement systems help you manage bids and contracts more easily.

Data analytics can spot trends and save money. Virtual reality could change how you buy training equipment. You could test items before purchase.

The use of AI might help match students with work placements more effectively, further streamlining your systems.

But adopting new tech has its own challenges. You need to train staff and update old systems. The initial costs can be high. You must also protect sensitive data from cyber threats.

Sustainable Procurement Practices

Green procurement is becoming more important. You can reduce your carbon footprint by choosing eco-friendly suppliers. This might mean buying local or picking products with less packaging.

Consider Evergreen Assessments and Social Value Model.

When it comes to employability contracts, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) isn't just focused on getting people into jobs - they want to create real, lasting social value. In fact, social value is a fundamental part of their commissioning strategy.

So what does that mean in practice? Well, the DWP wants suppliers to go above and beyond the basics. They're looking for providers who can deliver tangible benefits to communities, like creating local jobs, supporting disadvantaged groups, and promoting environmental sustainability. With the nature of employability contracts these should be linked directly to your core solution of course!

For example, let's say you're bidding for an employability contract in a deprived area. The DWP will want to see how you plan to engage with the local community, perhaps by partnering with local charities or setting up training schemes for residents. They'll also want to know how you'll support groups who face extra barriers to employment, like people with disabilities or those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

But it's not just about ticking boxes - the DWP wants to see genuine commitment and innovation from its suppliers. They're looking for creative approaches that can deliver real, measurable social impact alongside strong employment outcomes.

So if you're bidding for an employability contract, social value needs to be at the heart of your proposal.

What Next?

Thornton & Lowe offer a range of services for training and education providers - if you're looking for a helping hand with your bid, contact us using the form below.

We offer a fully-managed Bid Writing service across all industries, where we work with your team to produce bespoke, quality-driven responses on your behalf. For more information on this service, see the video below!

Find Live Employability Contracts