logo

Enspiring futures q a and clarifications

Enspiring Futures Q&A

Here's where you'll find the answers to the questions we're most commonly asked about the Enspiring Futures scheme. Got a question of your own? Get in touch! Just email [email protected].

Female engineering in a workplace lab

Clarifications on Enspiring Futures

Clarification 01 – RFP Schedule (Date Correction)

Date issued: 04 February 2026

The date listed for “Shortlisted Providers invites sent for Presentation” in section 2.8 RFP Schedule of the RFP document is incorrect.

  • Incorrect date: 04 February 2026
  • Correct date: 04 March 2026

This is a typographical error. There is no change to the RFP submission deadline (23 February 2026) or the presentation dates (10–12 March 2026).

Enspiring Futures Q&A - Questions released on 05 February 2026

Does 'West Midlands' include the wider West Midlands or just WMCA?

What is the expected split between 14–16 AP learners and 16–24 NEET learners?

Does it have to be an EAL or equivalent qualification or can we design a course more suited to AP provision?

What level of wrap-around support is required?

How do the learners get selected?

What is the outcome payment based on?

What classes as progression, job, FE, Apprenticeship?

You mentioned this is a full procurement process, but the slide said grant funding, can you clarify?

Are you hoping to award more than one provider?

Enspiring Futures Q&A - Questions released on 06 February 2026

Does delivery for 14 to 16 AP learners need to be during normal school hours, or could it be after school or early evening?

How should progression be measured for 14 to 15 year olds who are still of school age?

Can you clarify the expected numbers over the three year period?

If we need funding mainly for capital equipment upfront, can we receive most of the money at the start?

Is the funding capital only, or can some be used as revenue?

If an existing AP provider has not delivered welding before, is that acceptable?

We are a post 16 college and do not currently offer AP, would that prevent us applying?

Enspiring Futures Q&A - Questions released on 10 February 2026

Are bespoke pre-apprenticeship programmes acceptable rather than a formal qualification?

Is there a minimum number of learning hours per week or a required cohort length?

Does the minimum requirement of 72 training places still apply with this delivery model?

If the funding awarded is split across multiple providers, can the number of learners also be split? If one provider receives £80,000 they are more likely to be able to hit the target than one who only receives £8,000 for example.

Can the same learners be counted in the target number? For example, a learner completes an Entry Level Award then progresses to a Certificate or Diploma. Can that count as three learners rather than one? I am not trying to cheat anything here but we are such a small outfit, 72 is significant for us.

Can you tell me more about how the payments are staged? Is it a percentage at the start to set up, for example to buy equipment, recruit staff and create a suitable teaching environment? Is there a payment at the end or at the end of each cohort, term or year? When is the final payment and is that a specific percentage also? We would be starting from scratch so the initial payment would need to be substantial for us to establish the curriculum.

Finally to clarify, this is not a grant? We would be procured by yourself?

Enspiring Futures Q&A - Questions released on 11 February 2026

How fixed is the 23rd February RFP submission deadline? This may mean that final equipment costs cannot be fully confirmed at the point of submission. Should we submit an estimated proposal by the deadline and indicate that costs are to be confirmed, or submit shortly after the deadline once final figures are available?

circular-pattern-rotation