National Framework for Police Initial Entry Routes, Accreditation and Apprenticeships
Framework Description
BlueLight Commercial is procuring a national framework for police initial entry routes, accreditation and apprenticeships (Find a Tender notice 091128-2026). It will give forces a single route to buy delivery of the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship in England and Wales, the DHEP entry programme, accreditation services and wider apprenticeships. The framework is expected to run to 31 January 2035, with no extension option.
Context & Use Case
Police forces in England and Wales will use the framework to appoint education partners to train new constables through the PCDA and DHEP routes, and to buy accreditation and apprenticeship services for wider policing roles. Separate PCDA lots for England and for Wales let forces in each country appoint providers for their own programmes. Contracts for degree programmes typically last several years, so each award is a long-term partnership with a force.
Scope of Services
Lot 1a: PCDA, England Lot 1b: PCDA, Wales Lot 2: DHEP Lot 3: Accreditation Lot 4: Apprenticeships
Lots
Lot 1a - PCDA - England; Lot 1b - PCDA Wales; Lot 2 - DHEP; Lot 3 - Accreditation; Lot 4 - Apprenticeships
Who Can Apply
Suits universities, higher education providers and apprenticeship training providers with experience of policing curricula or professional degree apprenticeships, as well as bodies offering accreditation. It is still being procured, so places are won by bidding in the tender. Check carefully which lots match your registrations and delivery footprint.
Buyer Benefits
Forces can appoint education partners from a pre-approved national list instead of running their own procurements, which is costly and slow for multi-year degree programmes. Buyers will value providers with strong completion and retention rates, flexible delivery that fits shift patterns, and close working with force training teams.
Next Steps
Read notice 091128-2026 and the tender documents as they are released, and register on the e-tendering system it names. Decide which lots to target, noting that England and Wales PCDA are separate. Gather evidence of apprenticeship achievement rates, Ofsted or equivalent outcomes and existing policing partnerships. The framework will run to 31 January 2035, so this is a long-term commitment.
How Athena Can Help
National police education frameworks are high-value and heavily scored on quality. Athena's bid management specialists can plan your submission lot by lot, build win themes around achievement data and force partnerships, and test your likely score against other universities.
Our guidance on public sector bids also covers social value and pricing for multi-year programmes. If you deliver apprenticeships in other sectors, our framework pipeline service can show which education frameworks are due to open next.
