Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
The Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX
UK
Telephone: +44 1467530600
E-mail: cpssprocurement@aberdeencity.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM6
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.highland.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00045
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Framework Agreement for the Provision of Employability Services
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The creation of an Employability Support Services Framework aims to provide the flexibility to create innovative solutions to address the distinct economic challenges within Highland communities. Please refer to the ITT documents for full details.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
10 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM6
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
A number of key policy drivers influence the design and delivery of Employability Services across the Highlands. The creation of an Employability Support Services Framework aims to provide the flexibility to create innovative solutions to address the distinct economic challenges within Highland communities. Please refer to the ITT documentation for the full details.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Service Delivery Methodology
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Resources and Planning
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Programme Management and Performance
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Fair Work Practices
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Environmental Wellbeing (Commitment to Climate Change
/ Weighting: 5
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-069143
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
01/03/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 33
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 10
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 33
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 33
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
STEMRAN LIMITED
16 NEW INCHINNAN ROAD PAISLEY
PAISLEY
PA3 2PP
UK
NUTS: UKM83
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Social Enterprise Academy
Office 5 Faraline Pk, Margaret St
Inverness
IV11NH
UK
NUTS: UKM
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
UHI North, West and Hebrides
Carmichael Way
Fort William
PH33 6FA
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Youth Highland
The Pillar Box, High Street
Dingwall
IV15 9HA
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Kooth Digital Health Limited
5 Merchant Square
London
W2 1AY
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Calman Trust Ltd
17a Hilton Village
Inverness
IV2 4HT
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Change Mental Health Ltd
SUITE 4/1 GREAT MICHAEL HOUSE, 14 LINKS PLACE
EDINBURGH
EH6 7EZ
UK
NUTS: UKM75
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Perfect Patter Ltd
56 High Street
Lossiemouth
IV31 6AA
UK
NUTS: UKM62
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Emspired
33 Birch Drive, Maryburgh
DINGWALL
IV7 8ES
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Runours Beauty School
14 union street
Inverness
IV1 1PL
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Impact Arts
105 Brunswick St
Glasgow
G1 1TF
UK
NUTS: UKM82
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
IRL Education CIC
15-17 High Street, C/O Goldwells
Kingussie
PH21 1HS
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Farmer Jones Academy c.i.c
Victoria Buildings
Tain
IV19 1AE
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Merkinch Partnership
30 Grant Street
Inverness
IV3 8BN
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Apex Scotland
The Melting Pot , 15 Calton Road
Edinburgh
EH8 8EL
UK
NUTS: UKM
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Lead Scotland
Studio 1.09, St. Margaret's House, 151 London Road
Edinburgh
EH7 6AE
UK
NUTS: UKM
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Laura Lodahl Personal Development Coaching
1 County Houses, Half Davoch - Dunphail
Forres
IV36 2QG
UK
NUTS: UKM5
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Triage Central Limited
Earlsgate House, 35 St Ninians Road
Stirling
FK8 2HE
UK
NUTS: UKM77
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Mhor Collective
Achnamara, Janetstown
THURSO
KW14 7XQ
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Glow impact CIC
24,Skye court,
Grangemouth,Falkirk
Fk30JB
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Thurso community cafe
17 trail street
Thurso
Kw148ej
UK
NUTS: UKM
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
The CV Guru
5 Claremont Avenue, Kirkintilloch
Glasgow
G66 1BB
UK
NUTS: UKM81
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Centred(Scotland)
Unit 38, The Eastgate Centre
Inverness
IV2 3PP
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Street League
183 Crownpoint Road
Glasgow
G40 2AL
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Salvation Army Trustee Company(The)
Territorial HQ, 1 Champion Park
London
SE5 8FJ
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Glachbeg Croft Ltd
Glachbeg Croft
North Kessock
IV1 3XD
UK
NUTS: UKM61
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Nairn River Enterprise (Green Hive)
Green Hive Community Hub (Seaman's Victoria Hall), Harbour Street
Nairn
IV12 4PY
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Barnardo's
111 Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH14 1ED
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
New Start Highland
9 Carsegate Road North
Inverness
IV3 8DU
UK
NUTS: UKM62
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
ENABLE Scotland (leading the Way)
INSPIRE House, 3 Renshaw Place, Eurocentral
Lanarkshire
ML1 4UF
UK
NUTS: UKM
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Aban Outdoor Ltd.
Merkinch Welfare Hall, 30 Grant Street
Inverness
IV3 8BN
UK
NUTS: UKM6
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Flip of The Coin SCIO
1a Mid Street
Shandwick
IV20 1UT
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Highland Thrive CIC
Suite 17 & 18, The Dornoch Hub, Argyll Street
Dornoch
IV25 3LA
UK
NUTS: UKM61
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 10 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:839019)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Inverness Sheriff Court
Longman Road
Inverness
IV1 1AH
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
12/08/2026