Policy position for 2026–2027
Learn Devon will not undertake sub-contracting for the 2026–2027 academic year.
This position reflects the delivery and contractual expectations for Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority funded Adult Skills provision and removes the need for sub-contracted delivery, management fees or subcontractor assurance activity in-year.
1. Purpose and scope
This policy sets out Learn Devon’s position on sub-contracting for the 2026–2027 academic year. It applies to all Learn Devon adult skills delivery funded through the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority and any relevant Department for Education or Department for Work and Pensions adult skills funding streams administered through the 2026–2027 funding year.
For 2026–2027, Learn Devon will deliver its planned adult skills activity without sub-contracting any element of provision to external organisations. This policy therefore replaces the previous operational sub-contracting policy for 2025–2026 and confirms a clear annual position of no planned sub-contracting activity.
2. Policy statement
Policy area | 2026–2027 position |
Sub-contracting activity | Learn Devon will not enter into, renew, commission or operate any sub-contracting arrangements for DfE/DTCCA-funded Adult Skills Fund, Free Courses for Jobs or related adult skills delivery during the 2026–2027 academic year. |
Sub-contracting value | £0 planned sub-contracted delivery. No management fee will be retained in respect of sub-contracted provision. |
Exceptions | No exceptions are planned. Any future change would require a documented business case, Devon County Council governance approval and prior written approval from the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority before any commitment is made. |
Publication | This policy will be published as the annual sub-contracting policy statement for the 2026–2027 academic year. |
No learner, funding claim, qualification aim, tailored learning activity or Free Courses for Jobs delivery will be placed with a sub-contractor by Learn Devon during the 2026–2027 academic year. Delivery will be managed through Learn Devon’s own curriculum, staffing, quality assurance, data, finance, safeguarding and governance arrangements.
This policy does not prevent Learn Devon from working with employers, community venues, referral partners, voluntary and community organisations or statutory partners where those relationships support engagement, learner support, progression or access. However, such relationships must not involve the formal sub-contracting of funded learning delivery unless approval is obtained in advance through the process set out in this policy.
3. Rationale and contractual context
The 2026–2027 Adult Skills Fund delivery environment is shaped by the transfer of devolved adult skills responsibilities to the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority. Learn Devon’s delivery will be planned in line with the relevant DTCCA contract, delivery plan, performance management and assurance requirements.
The DTCCA delivery plan process requires providers to set out planned provision, target groups and expected outcomes, demonstrating alignment with agreed local priorities and funding expectations. It also confirms that providers acknowledge DTCCA monitoring and reconciliation arrangements through sign-off of their delivery plan.
In this context, Learn Devon’s 2026–2027 position is to simplify assurance, avoid unnecessary contractual risk and retain direct accountability for publicly funded learning. This is a reasonable and proportionate approach for the academic year and aligns with the wider assurance expectations for adult skills funding.
4. Implications for delivery
- No procurement activity will be undertaken for sub-contracted adult skills delivery in 2026–2027.
- No new sub-contracts will be issued, renewed or extended for 2026–2027 adult skills delivery.
- No sub-contracted funding allocation, management fee or sub-contractor payment profile will be published because the planned sub-contracting value is £0.
- All learner records, delivery evidence, quality assurance and funding claims will remain under Learn Devon’s direct control.
- Any partnership activity used to support recruitment, venues, referral, learner support or progression must be clearly distinguished from sub-contracted delivery.
5. Governance, roles and responsibilities
Role | Responsibility for 2026–2027 |
Senior Responsible Owner | Owns the policy position, approves publication and ensures any change to the no-sub-contracting position is escalated through DCC and DTCCA governance before implementation. |
Head of Employment & Adult Skills / Learn Devon leadership | Ensures curriculum planning, delivery and performance management are based on direct delivery or approved provider relationships that are not sub-contracting arrangements. |
Finance and Data Leads | Confirm that no sub-contracted delivery is claimed, recorded or paid through ASF, Free Courses for Jobs or related 2026–2027 funding streams. |
Quality and Compliance Leads | Maintain assurance that learners, provision and evidence remain within Learn Devon’s direct delivery and quality assurance arrangements. |
Any proposed departure from the no-sub-contracting position must be treated as a material change. It must be supported by a clear educational and business rationale, affordability assessment, risk assessment, due diligence evidence, legal and procurement advice, and formal approval through Devon County Council governance and the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority before any commitment is made.
6. Quality assurance and compliance
Because Learn Devon will not sub-contract provision in 2026–2027, there will be no requirement for subcontractor monitoring meetings, subcontractor quality reviews, subcontractor management fees, subcontractor external assurance or a subcontracting reduction plan in relation to active provision.
Learn Devon will nevertheless maintain internal controls to ensure that no activity is incorrectly treated, coded, claimed or reported as sub-contracted delivery. This includes financial checks, data checks, curriculum planning review, contract monitoring and senior oversight.
All directly delivered provision remains subject to Learn Devon’s established quality assurance, safeguarding, data protection, funding compliance, learner support and performance management arrangements.
7. Transparency and publication
This policy will be published as Learn Devon’s annual sub-contracting policy statement for the 2026–2027 academic year. It will make clear that the intended value of sub-contracted delivery is £0 and that no management fee will be retained because no sub-contracted provision is planned.
If the position changes during the year following formal approval, Learn Devon will update this policy and publish any required information in line with applicable DfE, DTCCA, ESFA or Devon County Council requirements.
8. Review and approval
This policy will be reviewed annually or earlier if there are changes to DTCCA contractual guidance, adult skills funding rules, DfE or DWP requirements, ESFA assurance expectations, or Devon County Council governance requirements.
Effective period: 1 August 2026–31 July 2027
Next review: by 31 July 2027
9. Sign-off
This policy is endorsed by:
Phill Adams
Deputy Director Economy and Skills
On behalf of Devon County Council
Date: July 2026
Publication: Learn Devon website / public policy page
Appendix: evidence base and reference documents
- Learn Devon Sub-Contracting Policy 2025–2026.
- Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Adult Skills Fund Provider Delivery Plan Template 2026/27.
- Relevant 2026–2027 DTCCA contractual guidance and funding conditions.
- Devon County Council financial, procurement, governance, safeguarding and data protection requirements.
Updated August 2026