Published date: 24 February 2025
Last edited date: 24 February 2025
Closed future opportunity - This means that a potential contract has passed its approach to market date. A buyer can choose to consider any supplier interest or convert this notice into an opportunity ready for live procurement.
Contract summary
Industry
Career guidance services - 79634000
Training services - 80500000
Location of contract
North East
Value of contract
£17,000,000 to £30,000,000
Procurement reference
OPEN2025178
Published date
24 February 2025
Approach to market date
20 March 2025
Contract start date
1 August 2025
Contract end date
31 March 2030
Procedure type
Open procedure (above threshold)
Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.
This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.
Contract is suitable for SMEs?
Yes
Contract is suitable for VCSEs?
Yes
Description
This notification / Prior Information Notice (PIN) / update is intended to alert providers to an opportunity to deliver the Connect to Work programme for the North East Combined Authority (North East CA).
The e-tendering system used by the North East CA is Open. Potential applicants for Connect to Work are encouraged to register on Open as soon as possible. It is free to register and use the system.
You will need to create an account on Open to access and bid for public sector opportunities issued by the North East Combined Authority, including this Connect to Work opportunity. Visit www.open-uk.org to register an account.
The Open Hub provides resources and information to help you get the most out of Open. There is an FAQ section and a range of how-to guides so you can familiarise yourself with the system at your own pace. Visit the Open Hub to find out more, or contact open.support@nepo.org
Connect to Work
The recently launched "Get Britain Working" White Paper outlines Government's strategy to invest £240m to support the ambition of a national 80% employment rate and help improve workplace health and keep people in work, including trials of combined public services for those out of work due to ill health. Connect to Work is the first major element of the Get Britain Working Strategy.
By encouraging join-up between health systems and employment support, Connect to Work will support those, primarily, currently outside the workforce and facing greater labour market disadvantages, to stay in work and get back into work. In turn, supporting the Government's ambition for a more inclusive economy, supporting local people to realise their potential and supporting local and national growth. Connect to Work funding will support around 100,000 disabled people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to get into employment and on in work. In the North East, Connect to Work will support 13,500 residents across the entirety of the programme.
The North East Combined Authority is the Accountable Body for Connect to Work in the North East and, working in partnership with the seven constituent local authorities, is responsible for the commissioning of Connect to Work delivery.
Connect to Work is a voluntary programme, delivering the evidence-based Supported Employment model, 'place, train, and maintain', via two different types of interventions based on the needs of the participant - Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Local Supported Employment (LSE). This opportunity relates to the IPS intervention only.
More information
Spend profile
| Financial year | Budget |
|---|---|
| 2025/2026 | £4,000,000 |
| 2026/2027 | £6,500,000 |
| 2027/2028 | £6,500,000 |
| 2028/2029 | £6,500,000 |
| 2029/2030 | £6,500,000 |
About the buyer
Contact name
Diane Stobbs
Address
The Lumen
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
NE45BZ
England
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Approach to market date: 20 March 2025
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