More than 80 recruiters have expressed an interest in a £50m two-year contract to provide temporary workers for Birmingham City Council.

The contract, worth £25m per year and starting in January, is to provide workers across a range of sectors, including social care, education procurement, horticulture and HR.

Senior procurement officer at the council, Stephanie Prutton, told Recruiter that she was pleased with the response so far, and expected to make a decision on who wins the contract in October or November. The deadline for tenders to be submitted was 3 August.

In addition, the council is conducting a market consultation to ask recruiters how best it should run a £50m per year managed service contract for its temporary workers.

Contract management officer Charlie Short said so far two companies had returned a questionnaire, and the contract will be put out to tender later this month.

A decision on who is awarded the contract will be made in October or November, and the contract is likely to run for five years from January.