NHS Engineering graduate scheme pilot

This Invitation to Quote (ITQ) has been prepared by NHS England and NHS Improvement (the 'Authority').

The Authority is looking for a Supplier for the set-up provision of a national NHS engineering graduate pilot scheme.

Proposed engagement for this programme set up will be from October 2024 until December 2026.

The scheme aim is to support a minimum of seven graduates in the first cohort from Sep 2025, running from this date to Aug 2028 with potential annual cohorts thereafter subject to need and available budget.

The supplier will oversee the recruitment, management, and support of graduates, who will be placed in NHS trusts. The trusts will pay the graduates' salaries, and an additional one-off fee will ensure the programme's sustainability. It is the one-off fee from trusts that will support the programme post Dec 2026. The funding available in the ITQ ( Invitation to Quote) is for set up costs only.

Educational components are apprenticeship levy funded. The supplier will need to engage with educational provider(s) and other stakeholders to support successful educational aspect to the programme.

The supplier will deliver marketing, recruitment, mentorship, and pastoral care for the graduates, as well as monitor and evaluate the programme.

Context:

The 2022 NHS Estates and Facilities Workforce Action Plan emphasises two critical actions:

1. Building the next generation of Estates, Facilities, and Maintenance (EFM) professionals. 2. Embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion into recruitment and development processes.

To achieve these goals, a bespoke NHS Estates graduate scheme is crucial for attracting new talent. The scheme aligns with several key priorities:

i) Increase technical engineering capacity within NHS Estates, which will help reduce operational risks, cut costs, and improve patient safety, care quality, and overall experience.

ii) Enhance leadership development within the Estates and Facilities division, creating a robust leadership pipeline.

Currently, the NHS employs approximately 500 engineers who utilise technical and project management skills to develop and maintain the NHS estate. However, significant challenges remain in recruiting and retaining a skilled technical workforce due to a national shortage of talent and unfavorable labour market conditions. As a result, NHS Estates has become highly reliant on external contractors, underscoring the need to cultivate talent internally.

Further detail and the tender documents can be downloaded from the link below : -

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Additional information: To express interest and participate in the tender, please register and apply via Atamis e-sourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome.

Should Tenderers have any queries, or having problems using the portal, they should contact Helpdesk at:

Phone: 0800 9956035

E-mail: [email protected]