Step Up To Social Work Cohort 10 Emerging Talent Contractor

The Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for the Step Up to Social Work (SUSW) programme and is inviting applications from suitably qualified suppliers to bid for the opportunity to be the contractor to manage the application and assessment process for Cohort 10.

SUSW is an established part of the social work sufficiency pipeline, training high-quality post-graduate students to become qualified, practising social workers. SUSW is a local authority led, accelerated, practice-focused route into social work.

SUSW commenced in 2010 and runs every 2 years. There have been 8 completed cohorts to date, training 3,500 Social Workers. Cohort 9 (640 students) commenced in January 2026 and will complete March 2027.

Programme Scope

• a)Develop a marketing plan and supporting materials with clear, consistent branding, ensuring alignment across all Regional Partnerships and coherence between local communications and the national strategy to maximise impact and reach.
• b)Design, manage and host a web portal allowing potential applicants to;
• Register interest in the programme
• Access information about the programme
• Complete and submit applications.
• Undertake an online written assessment
• Book an appointment for the assessment centre, meet and greet and applicant support sessions.

-The web portal should allow for at least 5,000 applications.

• c)Work with the DfE and Regional Partnerships (RP) to develop web content for the platform (web content from the previous cohort can be used).
• d)Operate a helpline (phone and email) for candidates applying for the programme during the application and assessment window (Feb 2027 – Nov 2027). The majority of queries will happen during the application window.
• d)Conduct eligibility checks on all applications (the majority of checks are automated), including verifying non-UK qualifications equivalency and eligibility to live and work in the UK using Home Office “share-code”.
• e)Allow Regional Partnerships to access the web portal to view/download and score applications. Allow for at least 30% concurrent users.
• f)Develop an applicant tracking system to manage candidates through the recruitment workflow managing at least 5,000 applications.
• g)Host a timed written exercise assessment on the platform.
• h)Host a booking process on the platform to allow applicants to book a slot for the assessment centre and manage this booking process.
• i)Support assessment centres in terms of providing a member of staff to support the RP in checking qualifications/directing people if required.
• j)Develop a candidate communications and engagement plan to keep candidates engaged and reduce drop out including notifying candidates of outcomes at each stage of the assessment process and manage the National Reserve List.
• k)Provision of ongoing management information on applications.
• l)Customer research measuring satisfaction of the recruitment process by both applicants and Regional Partnerships.

Please note the following

•The DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations. •All communication relating to this procurement must be submitted via the Jaggaer portal.

• Please ensure you review all tender documents available on Jaggaer in full and submit any queries through the portal.