Skills For Growth Light Touch Open Framework
Framework Description
Skills for Growth is Devon County Council's light-touch open framework for commissioning adult skills provision. Published on 1 July 2026, it was awarded to 68 suppliers and has an estimated value of £120 million. The initial term runs to 30 June 2029, with an option to extend by up to two more years to 30 June 2031. Three lots cover the Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs, Skills Bootcamps, and Future Skills Projects.
Context & Use Case
Devon uses the framework to place adult education and training funded through national skills programmes, matched to local labour market gaps and sector demand. Bringing several funding streams under one framework lets the council commission quickly as allocations and priorities change. Common sector and geographical specifications apply across the lots, so providers are matched to the subjects and parts of Devon they serve.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs Lot 2: Skills Bootcamps Lot 3: Future Skills Projects Accredited, functional and digital skills training Employer-linked bootcamp delivery and placement support Pilot projects for emerging sector skills
Lots
Yes: Three lots covering Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs; Skills Bootcamps; and Future Skills Projects, with common sector and geographical specifications
Who Can Apply
Suits further education colleges, independent training providers, bootcamp specialists and employer-led training organisations working in Devon. As a Live open framework, it reopens to new applicants during its term, so providers not among the 68 current suppliers can apply when it next reopens. Watch Devon County Council's notices on Find a Tender for the reopening.
Buyer Benefits
Devon can commission against different funding streams through one route, which saves on repeated tenders and lets it react quickly when new bootcamp waves or skills funds arrive. A large supplier pool gives choice across sectors and areas. The council will value providers that show strong learner progression into work, employer partnerships and reach into rural parts of the county.
Next Steps
Read Find a Tender notice 014536-2026, Devon's planned procurement notice, for the lot descriptions, and watch for the notice announcing the next reopening. Decide which lots and sectors fit your provision, and prepare evidence of achievement rates, progression into jobs and employer involvement. If you are already one of the 68 suppliers, focus on call-offs, which can be awarded with or without competition.
How Athena Can Help
For Devon's Skills for Growth framework, Athena can prepare your application for the next reopening through our open framework registration, choosing the right lots and writing narrative answers that show learner outcomes and employer links. If you already hold a place, our bid management service helps you win individual call-offs against other providers. Skills funding contracts are often tight on margin, so our public sector bidding consultancy includes pricing that stays profitable.
