Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

WMCA Connect To Work - Black Country

West Midlands Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

21 Jan 2026 at 12:36

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

20 Nov 2025 at 13:07

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

28 Jul 2025 at 14:40

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

13 May 2025 at 11:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), alongside the City of Wolverhampton Council, Dudley MBC, Sandwell MBC, and Walsall MBC, is undertaking a significant procurement process for the Connect To Work - Black Country programme. This initiative aims to provide Supported Employment services for disabled residents, those with long-term health conditions, and other disadvantaged groups with complex barriers to maintaining employment. The contract, valued at approximately £5.72 million, will support up to 1,400 participants using Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) models over the period from 16th January 2026 to 31st March 2027, with potential extensions until March 2028. The procurement process employed a competitive flexible procedure with multiple phases, initially planning and then moving through to award in January 2026. The services are set to be delivered across regions UKG36 through UKG39, focusing on education and training services within the context of public sector and healthcare industry categories.

This tender offers lucrative opportunities for businesses specialising in employment support, vocational training, and social care services, particularly those experienced with IPS/SEQF models and capable of supporting disabled and disadvantaged groups. The contract's size, with an active status awarded to The Shaw Trust, represents a significant opportunity for large-scale service providers capable of delivering comprehensive support programmes. This contract will not only assist regional economic growth but will also provide a platform for companies that are committed to social impact and community development initiatives. Organisations that possess robust service delivery mechanisms and an innovative approach to integrating employment and skills systems would be particularly well-placed to benefit from such opportunities, thereby catalysing business growth within this sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

WMCA Connect To Work - Black Country

Notice Description

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council, Dudley MBC, Sandwell, MBC and Walsall MBC are pleased to announce their intention to procure Supported Employment provision for disabled residents, residents with long-term health conditions, and other agreed disadvantaged groups with complex barriers to sustain work. Set out in the Adults Skills and Employment Functional Strategy https://governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/s23891/Appendix%203%20Functional%20Strategies%20Merged.pdf, our ambition is to develop an integrated employment and skills system that stimulates economic growth and delivers better outcomes for residents and businesses. Central to realising this is the flexibility we have secured as part of our deeper devolution deal, which gives the WMCA further policy influence with our system partners DWP and DfE, and control over adult skills and employment spending through the Integrated Settlement. The opportunity created by the Get Britain Working White Paper paves the way for further devolved responsibility for employment support working in partnership with DWP. Demonstrated through a devolved role in supported employment through the new Connect to Work programme and stronger role in partnership with DWP to deliver better outcomes for residents, it will further enable us to deliver our ambition for an integrated system that meets residents' needs, especially those disadvantaged in the labour market through ill health or disability, in alignment with the region's three Integrated Care Board's WorkWell pilots. Through Integrated Settlement, WMCA has secured PS5.72million to support up to 1400 participants to sustain work through the delivery of Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) models in 2025-26, with the potential to extend and scale up delivery in subsequent years. WMCA's Adult Skills & Employment Functional Strategy is available online through the following link: https://www.wmca.org.uk/documents/integrated-settlement/adult-skills-employment-functional-strategy/ with WMCA's approach to Connect to Work outlined in the Connect to Work Business Justification Case found here: https://governance.wmca.org.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=135&MId=1228&Ver=4

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: From 1st April 2026 potential variation and extension to deliver Phase 3 and Phase 4 (1st April 2026 to 31st March 2028) Phase 3 = 12 months (Engagement & Support) Phase 4 = 12 months (Support only)

Planning Information

We invite organisations who can deliver Supported Employment interventions in the Black Country area to attend our information session on 2nd June 2025 3.30pm - 4.30pm via Teams to learn more about the procurement opportunity. Please register using this link: https://assets-gbr.mkt.dynamics.com/a3b85b0d-c453-4680-af2a-330420e03125/digitalassets/standaloneforms/3ee9558e-e002-ef11-9f89-002248c822e6?readableEventId=WMCA_Connect_to_Work_-_Black_Country_Market_Engagement1564149866

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0511cc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005260-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

85140000 - Miscellaneous health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,804,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,804,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£4,566,530 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,902,721 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jan 20267 months ago
Submission Deadline
8 Aug 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
30 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
20 Nov 20259 months ago
Contract Period
16 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West Midlands 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
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B19 3SD
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
TLG36 Dudley, TLG37 Sandwell, TLG38 Walsall, TLG39 Wolverhampton
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Newtown
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

The Shaw Trust

The Shaw Trust Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...