TENDER FOR MODERN WORK EXPERIENCE EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT – GMCA

GMCA is seeking to award a contract for the provision of GMCA1938 Modern Work Experience – Employer Engagement.

This procurement is for a provider to deliver an employer market stimulation and engagement service through a targeted campaign of interventions that secure measurable employer commitments and build sustained Modern Work Experience (MWex) delivery capacity across the system, aligned to place priorities, GM growth locations and sector gateways.

This commission contributes to Greater Manchester’s Advancing Technical Education ambition by strengthening Experiences of the Workplace through sector-aligned, place-based delivery. It will stimulate employer markets, secure commitments to deliver progressive Modern Work Experience, and build employer and provider capability, supporting Greater Manchester’s wider ambition to increase the volume, quality and accessibility of work experience opportunities for young people and enable progression into MBacc pathways, T Level placements and wider technical education opportunities.

Strategically, this is rooted in the government’s ambition for all young people to access 50 hours of work experience by Year 11, updated Gatsby Benchmarks, revised statutory guidance, and the Greater Manchester Strategy (2025-35). Locally, it aligns with MBacc, MBacc MWEx Year 2, the Careers Hub, Employer Engagement function and wider Placement for All ambitions, supporting workforce preparation across key growth sectors.

It is intended that the initial period of the contract will commence on 1st September 2026 and end on 31st July 2027. The set budget for the initial period is £70,000 (excluding VAT).

The GMCA reserves the right to extend this contract for an additional 12 months to 31st July 2028. The value of the optional extension period is £70,000 (excluding VAT).

Further details on the nature and scope of the requirements can be found within the Specification at Document 2.

GMCA reserves the right to extend this contract for up to 12 months (to 31st July 2028), subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance, and continued alignment with GMCA’s strategic and policy context. The value of the optional extension period is £70,000.

All tenders must be submitted via The Chest (the North West Procurement Portal) – https://www.the-chest.org.uk/.

The Chest reference for this opportunity is DN817103.

All tender responses must be submitted via The Chest. For the avoidance of doubt, tenders received in any other way will be rejected.

The award criteria for this procurement is 100% Quality (90% – Technical Questions and 10% – Social Value).

The full award criteria and any sub-criteria can be found in the procurement documentation published with this opportunity.

56 Oxford Street

Manchester

M1 6EU

United Kingdom

Email: procurement@manchesterfire.gov.uk

Region: UKD33 – Manchester

Organisation type: Public authority – sub-central government