Planning

Connect 2 Work

SOMERSET COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Jul 2025 at 14:24

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Somerset Council is spearheading the 'Connect 2 Work' initiative, currently in the planning stage, aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups within Somerset. The tender focuses on providing services in the business sector, specifically law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing, and security, under CPV code 79000000. It is expected that a Tender Notice will be published in autumn 2025, with the programme launching in 2026 and continuing until 2030. This open procedure procurement process seeks delivery partner(s) proficient in supporting individuals into sustainable employment through intensive supported models, with a core contract value estimated between £500,000 and £3 million.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) operating within the UK to deliver specialised services alongside Somerset Council. Businesses with expertise in employment support, particularly those with experience in the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) or Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), would be well-suited to compete. By participating, selected contractors can engage in impactful work, assisting economically inactive adults into sustainable job roles, while simultaneously expanding their service portfolios and fostering economic growth in the Somerset region.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Connect 2 Work

Notice Description

Connect to Work (C2W) The Government's Get Britain Working white paper (November 2024) sets out its ambitions to reduce economic inactivity and achieve an 80% employment rate. Connect to Work (C2W) is a funded programme resulting from the white paper. It aims to support disabled people, those with long-term health conditions and people in disadvantaged groups, with multiple and complex barriers, to move into and sustain employment. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 3million economically inactive people in the UK, 1.9million of whom would like to work, but require support to do so. In Somerset there are 56,700 (Nomis, Sept 2023 - Oct 2024) economically inactive people of working age (16-64), with around 16,900 of these individuals being inactive due to long-term health issues and/or disabilities. C2W aims to break down barriers and provide sustainable employment outcomes for individuals with complex needs, which will help transform their lives but will also contribute to the growth and productivity of our local economy. C2W will connect local work, health and skills support to help eligible participants to secure sustainable work through intensive supported employment models, adhering to either the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) or Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF). Through this, C2W will expand the use of the proven five stage Supported Employment fidelity model of 'place, train and maintain'. Somerset Council, as the lead authority, will manage the delivery of C2W in Somerset including procuring and managing delivery partner(s) to provide high-quality support, based on the fidelity model, to participants and employers. The Authority intends to award a core contract to one or more core providers to deliver against each, or both, models across all eligible participants across Somerset. The Authority also intends to secure provision that targets individual cohorts and/or specific geographies based on evidence of need. Delivery partners will be expected to work with community provision across Somerset and be agile to meet evolving demand and need. The Authority expects to publish a Tender Notice during the autumn 2025, to deliver this programme in partnership with one or more delivery partner(s) who are able to demonstrate ability to provide the required support, to expected quality standards, and meet set targets for supporting economically inactive adults into, and sustain, paid employment. C2W will launch, in Somerset in 2026 and will run through to the end of delivery in 2030. Somerset Council will be working towards a peak delivery target of 700 individuals per year in 2027- 2029. The Authority estimates that contract values will range between PS500k and PS3m for the term, though this value may be amended subject to any additional funding availability.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056749
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043551-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jul 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
10 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOMERSET COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercialandprocurement@somerset.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
TAUNTON
Postcode
TA1 4DY
Post Town
Taunton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK62 Somerset
Delivery Location
TLK23 Somerset CC
Local Authority
Somerset
Electoral Ward
Bishop's Hull & Taunton West
Westminster Constituency
Taunton and Wellington

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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