Home / Opportunities / Opportunity
PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Create Talent Programme

North East Combined Authority · Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 09:04.

Opportunity overview

The Create Talent Programme is an innovative, industry led skills programme that will support the North East's thriving creative sector, focusing on the music, arts, writing and publishing and the screen industry. The programme will play a key part in delivering the Mayor and Cabinet's mission 'Home to a growing and vibrant economy for all', providing our workforce with the right skills and training to build an inclusive and competitive economy. The programme will provide sector-leading, inclusive and needs-led pathways for aspiring creatives, encouraging people of all ages from diverse backgrounds to aspire to a career in the creative sector. Alongside this, it will support freelancers and enterprises to develop high-level skills in creative practices. By focusing on identified skills needs and transferable skills, it will equip our freelance community with the fundamental skills to build, sustain and grow their practice as effective freelancers employed in the creative sector. This procurement opportunity is seeking delivery partnerships led by creative industry specialists, provision must combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge and be delivered in real work environments (e.g., studios, writing hubs) alongside community venues. In the partnership arrangement, a lead provider will be responsible for coordinating delivery across all partners, ensuring that the target number of participants is supported and that the allocated funding is utilised effectively and in line with programme objectives.

Classification

  • CPV80400000 — Adult and other education services

Lots

  • Lot 1£4m · Including VAT

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
OPEN20252060
Status
active
Above Threshold
Yes
Procurement Method
open
Main Procurement Category
services
How to submit
www.open-uk.org Open reference number: OPEN20252060
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
056282-2025
Description
THIS NOTICE HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO A DELAY IN THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS
Entry 2
Id
073443-2025
Description
The Publication, Submission, Award Decision and Go Live Dates have been updated to reflect the new Procurement Timetable which will be available as part of the Tender Pack

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Expected award period

Ends
6 Feb 2026, 23:59

Tender Period

Ends
9 Jan 2026, 12:00

Communication

Future Notice Date
28 Nov 2025, 23:59

Enquiry period

Ends
28 Dec 2025, 17:00

Special regime

lightTouch

Submission terms

Electronic Submission Policy
allowed

Languages

en

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
active

Value

Currency
GBP
Including VAT
3,950,000

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Quality
Type
quality

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
90
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Name
Price
Type
price

Numbers

Entry 1
Number
10
Weight
percentageExact

Contract period

Ends
6 Feb 2029, 23:59
Starts
6 Feb 2026, 00:00

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 4
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 5
Region
UKC14
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 6
Region
UKC2
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
80400000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Adult and other education services

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
L-1
Url
www.open-uk.org
Description
Documents available reference number OPEN20252060
Document Type
biddingDocuments
Entry 2
Id
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Entry 3
Id
078141-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK4
Description
Tender notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
tenderNotice
Published
28 Nov 2025, 14:29

Planning and budget

Documents

Entry 1
Id
056201-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK3
Description
Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
plannedProcurementNotice
Published
12 Sept 2025, 13:42
Entry 2
Id
056282-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK3
Description
Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
plannedProcurementNotice
Published
12 Sept 2025, 15:29
Entry 3
Id
073443-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK3
Description
Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
plannedProcurementNotice
Published
13 Nov 2025, 10:51
Entry 4
Id
073448-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
13 Nov 2025, 10:59

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Status
scheduled
Due
26 Nov 2025, 23:59
Description
We are pleased to invite you to a market engagement webinar introducing the upcoming Create Talent tender - a programme designed to inspire, engage, and upskill people across the North East, opening doors to opportunities in the creative sector. What's on the agenda: ✔ Overview of the Create Talent programme ✔ Details of the upcoming tender opportunity ✔ Q&A with the commissioning team Who should attend: • Potential bidders and delivery partners • Community organisations • Sector specialists • Creative sector employers • Anyone passionate about supporting creative skills and employment To register follow the link below: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/create-talent-market-engagement-event-tickets-1965496267245?aff=oddtdtcreator

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-PPON-PJMR-6594-BRGH
Name
North East Combined Authority

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKC22
Country
GB
Locality
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Postal Code
NE4 5BZ
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
The Lumen, St James' Boulevard

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Identifier

Id
PJMR-6594-BRGH
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Newcastle Upon Tyne · UKC22 · NE4 5BZ · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKC14 · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKC2 · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKC · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-059976-2025-11-28T14:29:03ZPlanned procurement notice on Find a Tender ·