ECITB Scholarships Programmes 2027 (Provider sourcing)

Description

Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is pleased to announce the commencement of pre-market engagement for our forthcoming 2027 Scholarships Programme procurement, which will commence contract delivery in September 2027, with tenders due for launch in August 2026. ECITB Scholarships are our flagship new entrant programmes, designed to address skills shortages in the UK engineering construction industry by providing employer-led, full-time technical training that leads directly into employment or accelerated apprenticeships. The programme aims to: • Create a sustainable pipeline of skilled entrants into the engineering construction industry. • Deliver training in disciplines where regional demand has been identified through labour market intelligence. • Connect learners directly with employers throughout their training, rather than simply delivering college-based education. • Ensure learners receive a thorough grounding in industry best practise and safe behaviours before being presented to employers. • Support the industry's workforce needs across England, Scotland and Wales • Maximise available public and ECITB funding to create a sustainable and cost effective delivery model. Regions and Disciplines Tenders are planned to be launched in August 2026 covering the following Regions and Disciplines: Regions: • Central Belt of Scotland • Cumbria • Humber Region England • North East England • North West England • South East England • South West England Disciplines: Mechanical, Pipefitting, Welding, Plating, Rigging, Design and Draughting. *These may be subject to change at ECITB's discretion How to get involved As part of our commitment to open, transparent and effective procurement, we are inviting interested organisations to engage with us ahead of the formal tender process. This early engagement provides an opportunity for suppliers to gain an understanding of our future requirements, ask questions, and help us ensure that our procurement approach reflects current market capability and innovation. Please note this is not a call for competition at this stage. We encourage all organisations with relevant experience and capability to express their interest and participate in our forthcoming Pre-Market Engagement (PME) Webinar on the 23 July 2026 @ 11:00. During the session we will: • Who the ECITB are, our strategic objectives and anticipated service requirements. • Provide an overview of the proposed procurement timetable and approach. • Outline the expected scope of the contract(s) including Regions, disciplines, and optimal funding models. • Invite feedback and questions from the supplier market to help inform the final procurement documentation and timetable. Participation in this pre-market engagement is entirely voluntary and is intended solely to inform both ECITB and potential suppliers. It does not form part of any formal procurement process, will not be evaluated, and will not provide any supplier with an advantage in any subsequent tender exercise. Following completion of the pre-market engagement, ECITB intends to publish the formal procurement opportunities via Find a Tender Service, where all interested suppliers will have an equal opportunity to compete. We welcome engagement from organisations of all sizes and look forward to working collaboratively with the market to deliver successful and impactful Scholarships Programmes in 2027. Further information, including details of how to register for the PME webinar and access supporting information, can be found within this notice. We encourage suppliers to register their interest via the Webinar link to receive updates and further communications relating to the Webinar. LINK: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7ffb545a-dd02-4f5d-b86e-4d4010bb5fd0@8ca5948f-3366-4ce2-97ff-01bd2c6b9a8e About the ECITB The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is the statutory skills organisation for the Engineering Construction Industry (ECI) in Great Britain. An Arm's Length Body of government, the ECITB works with employers and governments to attract, develop and qualify the engineering construction workforce in a wide range of craft, technical and professional disciplines. Employer-led, the ECITB is accountable to parliament and funded by a levy that it is required to collect from the industry. The levy is used to support employers to train and upskill their workforce to industry standards, develop qualifications and courses that meet employer needs and regulate a network of approved training providers. The ECITB is also an Awarding Organisation accredited by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), Qualifications Wales and Qualifications Scotland Accreditation. The ECITB plays a vital role, along with the education sector, government and employers, in ensuring Britain has workers with the skills to meet the needs of the engineering construction industry. We invest more than £28 million every year to enhance skills across the engineering construction industry, support growth through workforce training, and tackle labour shortages and skills gaps. This includes technical, management and professional training as well as support for apprenticeships and graduates entering industry. More information about the ECITB can be found on our website at www.ecitb.org.uk