Location: Bedford

HEART Academies Trust is establishing a multi-lot framework to provide temporary, fixed-term, and permanent supply staff across educational settings in the UK, including schools, colleges, nurseries, pupil referral units, and children’s centres. The framework has three lots: Direct Provision, where suppliers provide staff directly; Master Vendor, a managed service provider model overseeing a supply chain; and Neutral Vendor, which sources staff almost entirely through an approved supply chain. The framework is estimated at £1.02 billion including VAT, runs from January 2026 to January 2030, with the potential to extend to January 2034, and will be reopened annually to allow new suppliers to join and maintain value and compliance. Suppliers added to the framework will be eligible for Direct Awards or Mini Competitions.

This tender will be of interest to recruitment agencies, staffing providers, and managed service providers specialising in education sector roles. Suppliers must demonstrate ability to deliver compliant and high-quality recruitment services, including knowledge of legislation such as the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), IR35, and National Minimum Wage, and maintain relevant accreditation certification. The framework offers opportunities to work with a wide range of public sector customers, manage supply chains, and provide additional value through compliance, reporting, and efficient workforce management across multiple educational environments.