Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bbc-0af9-72ec-aeec-caca8f18280e/centre-of-excellence-sector-capability-capacity-and-skills awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # Centre of Excellence - Sector Capability, Capacity and Skills [Department for Education](https://tendernation.io/buyers/department-for-education) Open field Estimated value £833,333 Published 19 Sept 2025 Deadline Closed 30 Jun 2025 ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender The Department for Education (the department) are looking for a provider to scope, test and begin delivering a support offer (Centre of Excellence) to help local authorities (LAs) improve their data and digital maturity with respect to children’s social care (CSC) services. The incoming government has prioritised 'Multi Agency Information Sharing' (MAIS)as a key focus in their manifesto. To help ready the sector for MAIS technical solutions and get the foundations of data and digital knowledge and confident leadership across all LAs in place, the department will provide a support offer to help LAs improve their data and digital maturity with respect to CSC services. This includes the sector’s ability to secure, use and share data; and to deliver user-centred case management systems (CMS). The department wants to understand what and how support could be offered for maximum impact, and to begin delivering the support offer. To deliver this work, it is recognised that the successful bidder will need to work closely with the department and those working in data and digital roles related to CSC in LAs. The supplier will: - work with the department and LAs to co-develop a vision and action plans for a data and digitally mature sector - provide expertise on CSC data and digital, including hands-on support with specific LAs - help LAs optimise how they customise and procure their digital CMS - develop tools and resources that meet the needs of users - plan research to provide a more detailed picture of CSC data quality, identifying where to focus improvements - facilitate knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration between LAs, to share guidance, best practice and ideas – creating spaces where LAs can learn from each other both about what works and what does not, and how to utilise future technologies - plan help with career and skills development to grow capability and capacity – training programmes and guidance that support continuous professional development, upskilling (including potentially around the use of AI), and those joining the profession; with shorter data/digital skills training/courses as well as longer ones (e.g. apprenticeships) to make building a data or digital career within LAs more achievable and attractive A Prior Information Notice for this procurement was published in February 2025 under PCR15. The links to these notices can be found here: [find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003474-2025](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003474-2025) [contractsfinder.service.gov.uk](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/fd848d6e-7db7-4312-9121-fb26dce7be2d) Read full description ## CPV classification Education and training services Source Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-05287d-2025-09-19T11:27:47+01:00 [View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-05287d-2025-09-19T11:27:47+01:00) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. 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