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    ContractsTechFirst and Spärck AI Scholarships - Cohort Management Services Contract
    Awarded contract

    TechFirst and Spärck AI Scholarships - Cohort Management Services Contract

    Awarded
    £2.4m
    Published 3 Aug 2026

    UKRI seeks a supplier to provide end-to-end cohort management services for TechFirst and Spärck AI scholarship programmes, including student support, platform operations, work placements, and stakeholder management.

    🇬🇧United Kingdom· South WestPublished 3 Aug 2026· YesterdayviaFind a Tender
    Awarded
    £2.4m
    Published 3 Aug 2026

    Decision brief

    4 fields
    • Contract value
      £2,356,052
      Pounds sterling
    • Closing date
      Rolling
      No closing date published
    • Sector
      Professional Services
      Browse related listings
    • Location
      🇬🇧United Kingdom
      South West

    Suppliers

    1 supplier
    • QA
      QA Ltd
      Lead contractor

    Lifecycle

    Awarded

    Contract awarded. Originally published yesterday.

    3 August 2026
    Awarded — no open tender advertised

    Brief

    UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has awarded a contract to supply comprehensive Cohort Management Services for its TechFirst Undergraduate and Spärck AI Scholarship programmes. The successful supplier will manage scholarship cohorts throughout their entire lifecycle, from initial onboarding through graduation and alumni transitions. Key responsibilities include: administering and overseeing scholarship cohorts; operating a student engagement platform; providing tailored student support services; coordinating work placements and skills academies; delivering professional development activities; organizing programme events; ensuring safeguarding and wellbeing support; and managing stakeholder relationships with students, employers, and delivery partners. The supplier will also support programme governance, deliver performance reporting, and collaborate with UKRI and partner organizations to achieve strategic objectives. This contract award notice covers Lot 1 (Cohort Management Function) only; the procurement outcome for Lot 2 (Recruitment Function) will be announced separately.

    Track record

    20 awards · 15 winners
    Open field

    No single supplier dominates the field.

    In professional services, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) has awarded 20 contracts to 15 suppliers.

    Who wins here
    1. Energy Systems Catapult service Ltd5× · 25%
    2. Puntios Ltd2× · 10%
    3. Automated Building & Energy Controls Ltd1× · 5%
    4. Creative Economy Team Ltd1× · 5%
    5. Mark Muller1× · 5%
    6. Actica Consulting1× · 5%

    +9 more suppliers

    Across professional services, the most active winners are REED SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT LIMITED, KPMG LLP, Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd — the field to beat, or your route in as a partner.

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    Take action
    View on sourceFind a Tender

    Award notice and full record on the publisher's site

    Publisher
    UK Cabinet Office
    Licence
    OGL v3.0
    Source
    find-tender.service.gov.uk
    Record ID
    ocds-h6vhtk-066fdc
    UR
    Buyer
    UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)
    Sector
    Professional Services