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Connect to Work

North East Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

14 Aug 2025 at 10:42

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

16 Apr 2025 at 16:41

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

20 Mar 2025 at 15:10

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

07 Mar 2025 at 09:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 Feb 2025 at 11:51

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The North East Combined Authority is overseeing the procurement process for the "Connect to Work" initiative, as part of the new Government's mission aimed at fostering an inclusive and thriving labour market and accelerating economic growth. The procurement method employed is an open procedure, focusing on providing services within the 'light touch' regime. The project is situated in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, with logistical ties throughout the UKC region. The contract, valued at £31.5 million GBP, spans from 1 June 2025 until 31 March 2028, with possible extensions up to 31 March 2030. The North East Combined Authority has progressed from planning to awarding stages as of July 2025, highlighting its commitment to boosting employment rates across the region through strategic, locally-driven collaboration.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses focused on government services, career guidance, and training programme services to engage in a transformative public initiative. It is particularly suited for SMEs and VCSEs that can offer innovative solutions to employment challenges, particularly those involving health and labour market integration. Companies adept in collaborative engagements with local authorities and possessing expertise in delivering employment-related services are encouraged to compete. This initiative aims to support businesses that contribute to the Government's larger ambition for an inclusive economy, where all individuals have a pathway to employment, thereby facilitating social and national growth.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Connect to Work

Notice Description

A key part of the new Government's mission to kick-start growth is a commitment to building an inclusive and thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity of good work, and the chance to get on at work. This will improve living standards and ensure funding for vital public services. It is also central to delivering on missions to break down the barriers to opportunity, and to improve the health of the nation. As part of this mission, the Government has set a long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate. This would place the UK among the highest performing countries in the world, with the equivalent of over two million more people in work. The recently launched "Get Britain Working" White Paper outlines Government's strategy to invest PS240m to support this ambition 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. The strategy will bring fundamental reform that transforms relationships with local areas and ensures a strong foundation of partnership working to support people into good, sustainable work. Connect to Work is the first major element of the Get Britain Working Strategy. It will take a collaborative, locally led approach to tackling 'Hidden Unemployment'. It will help connect local work, health and skills support. The funding provides a coherent, systematic and joined up approach to maximise the benefits available for individuals and local communities. Connect to Work will support the wider development of locally planned systems to drive growth, working jointly with the Government. It will be an important strand in local plans to tackle inactivity and expand employment opportunity. 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.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: 2.3 The initial term of a Contract for Service is anticipated to start in August 2025 and will run until 31 March 2028. The North East CA may extend that Contract Term for 24 months to 31 March 2030 subject to funding and contract performance.

Planning Information

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. In England and Wales, 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. Connect to Work is a voluntary programme, providing a specific form of support targeted at the right people at the right time, based on their individual circumstances. The programme will deliver the evidence-based Supported Employment model, 'place, train, and maintain', via two different types of interventions - Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Local Supported Employment (LSE). As the Accountable Body, the North East CA is responsible for the commissioning, implementation and management of the Connect to Work which will support 13,500 residents across the entirety of the programme. An Invitation to Tender for the IPS intervention will be launched on Thursday 20 March 2025 and will be live for 30 days on the OPEN tendering system. It is anticipated that delivery will start in Summer 2025. The purpose of this online session is to provide a high-level overview of the Connect to Work commissioning process, specification, and timescales. Link to Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/connect-to-work-north-east-commissioning-launch-tickets-1264111965919?aff=oddtdtcreator

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e851
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048650-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

75131000 - Government services

79634000 - Career guidance services

80521000 - Training programme services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£31,500,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£31,500,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£25,939,709 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
9 May 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
20 Mar 2025Expired
Award Date
24 Jul 20251 years ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2025 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
North East Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE4 5BZ
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England)
Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Arthur's Hill
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
4
Supplier Names

GROUNDWORK NORTH EAST

NORTHERN RIGHTS SOCIAL ENTERPRISE (TYNE AND WEAR) LIMITED

Northumberland County Council

TRIAGE CENTRAL LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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