Listen to this story Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article. 1.0x Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice. 0:00 0:00 Become a member to listen to this article Subscribe A mayoral authority has officially scrapped a £21 million adult education procurement after a training provider launched legal action against it. Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) began a tender for adult skills funding in January, with contracts due to begin this August and run for three years. But the procurement was paused last month without explanation, two days after Learning Curve Group and two subsidiaries filed a legal claim against the authority at the Technology and Construction Court, which handles public procurement disputes. FE Week has now seen a message sent to bidders today confirming the procurement has been formally withdrawn. It will now review the tender’s specification to better reflect skills shortages in the area. In the message, a TVCA procurement officer said: “Due to a material change in circumstances, the combined authority has taken the decision to withdraw this procurement opportunity. “Following finalisation of the grant funded provider delivery plans and development of the local skills improvement plan 2026-2029, the combined authority considers it necessary to review the specification to ensure that the adult skills fund appropriately reflects identified skills shortages and gaps. “The procurement is therefore being withdrawn at this stage to allow for that review.” The authority added that “a further opportunity is expected to be published in the coming weeks”. Although Learning Curve Group is understood to have submitted a bid for the TVCA contract, it remains unclear whether the procurement withdrawal is linked to the legal claim. Tees Valley Combined Authority and Learning Curve Group were approached for comment. The legal action came a year after Learning Curve, based in County Durham, reached a confidential financial settlement with the Department for Education following a dispute over losing out on a national adult education budget contract in 2023.
Michelle Elliott 29 May 2026 This is a disappointing outcome for independent training providers across the Tees Valley who are not part of grant‑funded allocations. Many have built delivery expertise, employer partnerships and experienced teams since devolution, and sudden changes inevitably create short‑term uncertainty for provision and staffing. It is encouraging that the Combined Authority is aligning future delivery to the Local Skills Improvement Plan. However, it will be important that any revised specification recognises and retains the contribution of non‑grant funded providers in delivering flexible, employer‑responsive provision to support both priority sectors and disadvantaged learners.