Planning

South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area)

WEST NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

01 Aug 2025 at 13:12

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

01 Aug 2025 at 07:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Northamptonshire Council is currently in the planning stage of the "South Midlands Connect to Work Programme" aimed at improving employment outcomes in the West Northamptonshire area. The council is organising a Supplier Engagement Event on 3rd September 2025 at The Guildhall, St Giles' Square, Northampton. The event, which is part of the initial market engagement strategy, aims to gather input and gauge market interest for the programme. Located in the UKF24 region, the programme falls under the "services" category, specifically focusing on training and health and social work services. Interested parties are encouraged to register by 1st September 2025, with the procurement process and methods to be determined following the event.

The "South Midlands Connect to Work Programme" presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those experienced in delivering training and social work services. With a gross contract value of £1,728,000, the programme encourages participation from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary community and social enterprises (VCSEs). Businesses can leverage this project to expand their influence in public sector contracts while contributing positively to local employment support efforts. Firms with a background in providing employment solutions and services for difficult-to-employ populations will find this programme particularly suited to their expertise, potentially allowing for strategic growth and increased visibility within the public procurement domain.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area)

Notice Description

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is seeking to appoint experienced delivery partners to support the implementation of the South Midlands Connect to Work Programme in the West Northamptonshire area. Information on the Connect to Work Grant Guidance for England can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/connect-to-work/connect-to-work-grant-guidance-for-england Connect to Work is aimed at improving employment outcomes for residents facing barriers into work. Prior to commencing the formal procurement, WNC is conducting a Supplier Engagement Event for the South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area)to seek input from the market and to understand what the appetite is for undertaking this service. The procurement procedure route (Open/ Competitive Flexible) is undetermined at this stage and will be established following the market engagement event. The Council would like to invite interested organisations to attend a face to face market engagement event on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025 at 10 am - 1 pm held at The Guildhall, St Giles' Square, Northampton NN1 1DE. Prior to the event interested organisations are invited to complete our online survey here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9rFq2WDmUE2ez1oK8hIXl-Sv5EwS_dFIh_mXUdHyKtlUNFVTUlFSTkcxMVUyVjlQMElJS041QjI4Ry4u It is not a mandatory requirement to complete the survey to be able to attend the market engagement event. To register for this event please email procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk by Monday, 1st September 2025 . Please note only registered attendees will be allowed into the engagement event. Participation in this process will not impact your ability to engage with the future tender opportunity. The information provided in the survey by Potential Suppliers will not contribute to any future tender submissions or the evaluation process. Participation in the market engagement event does not guarantee that a procurement will follow, nor does it determine the final scope or structure of any potential procurement.

Planning Information

WNC is conducting a Supplier Engagement Event for the South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area) to seek input from the market and will be inviting interested organisations to attend a face to face market engagement event on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025 from 10 am - 1 pm. Event Location:The Guildhall, St Giles' Square, Northampton. Parking is available at St. John's Multi Storey Car Park - Postcode for Sat Nav: NN1 1HA The event will provide: • An overview of the programme and its ambitions • Insight into our commissioning approach • A chance to shape the future of supported employment in our area • Networking with other providers and stakeholders If you wish to attend the engagement event, please register your interest by Monday 1st September 2025 to procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk and provide your organisation name, contact details and number of attendees. Please also reference the event title and project reference on your correspondence - 'South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area) - Ref WNC00000569. An agenda will be issued to all interested organisations attending, prior to the event. If you are unable to attend the event and would like to complete the survey, please visit: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9rFq2WDmUE2ez1oK8hIXl-Sv5EwS_dFIh_mXUdHyKtlUNFVTUlFSTkcxMVUyVjlQMElJS041QjI4Ry4u

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056ad9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045259-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

80500000 - Training services

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,440,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WEST NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Contact Name
Claire Baker
Contact Email
procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
NORTHAMPTON
Postcode
NN1 1ED
Post Town
Northampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF24 West Northamptonshire
Delivery Location
TLF24 West Northamptonshire
Local Authority
West Northamptonshire
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Northampton North

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-056ad9-2025-08-01T14:12:39+01:00",
    "date": "2025-08-01T14:12:39+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-056ad9",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PGDV-8944-CMBP",
            "name": "West Northamptonshire Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PGDV-8944-CMBP"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Angel Street",
                "locality": "Northampton",
                "postalCode": "NN1 1ED",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKF24"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Claire Baker",
                "email": "procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://in-tendhost.co.uk/wnc/aspx/Home",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PGDV-8944-CMBP",
        "name": "West Northamptonshire Council"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "WNC is conducting a Supplier Engagement Event for the South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area) to seek input from the market and will be inviting interested organisations to attend a face to face market engagement event on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025 from 10 am - 1 pm. Event Location:The Guildhall, St Giles' Square, Northampton. Parking is available at St. John's Multi Storey Car Park - Postcode for Sat Nav: NN1 1HA The event will provide: * An overview of the programme and its ambitions * Insight into our commissioning approach * A chance to shape the future of supported employment in our area * Networking with other providers and stakeholders If you wish to attend the engagement event, please register your interest by Monday 1st September 2025 to procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk and provide your organisation name, contact details and number of attendees. Please also reference the event title and project reference on your correspondence - 'South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area) - Ref WNC00000569. An agenda will be issued to all interested organisations attending, prior to the event. If you are unable to attend the event and would like to complete the survey, please visit: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9rFq2WDmUE2ez1oK8hIXl-Sv5EwS_dFIh_mXUdHyKtlUNFVTUlFSTkcxMVUyVjlQMElJS041QjI4Ry4u",
                "dueDate": "2025-09-01T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "045013-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045013-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-08-01T08:47:35+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "045259-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045259-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-08-01T14:12:39+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "WNC00000569",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area)",
        "description": "West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is seeking to appoint experienced delivery partners to support the implementation of the South Midlands Connect to Work Programme in the West Northamptonshire area. Information on the Connect to Work Grant Guidance for England can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/connect-to-work/connect-to-work-grant-guidance-for-england Connect to Work is aimed at improving employment outcomes for residents facing barriers into work. Prior to commencing the formal procurement, WNC is conducting a Supplier Engagement Event for the South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (West Northants area)to seek input from the market and to understand what the appetite is for undertaking this service. The procurement procedure route (Open/ Competitive Flexible) is undetermined at this stage and will be established following the market engagement event. The Council would like to invite interested organisations to attend a face to face market engagement event on Wednesday, 3rd September 2025 at 10 am - 1 pm held at The Guildhall, St Giles' Square, Northampton NN1 1DE. Prior to the event interested organisations are invited to complete our online survey here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9rFq2WDmUE2ez1oK8hIXl-Sv5EwS_dFIh_mXUdHyKtlUNFVTUlFSTkcxMVUyVjlQMElJS041QjI4Ry4u It is not a mandatory requirement to complete the survey to be able to attend the market engagement event. To register for this event please email procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk by Monday, 1st September 2025 . Please note only registered attendees will be allowed into the engagement event. Participation in this process will not impact your ability to engage with the future tender opportunity. The information provided in the survey by Potential Suppliers will not contribute to any future tender submissions or the evaluation process. Participation in the market engagement event does not guarantee that a procurement will follow, nor does it determine the final scope or structure of any potential procurement.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80500000",
                        "description": "Training services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85000000",
                        "description": "Health and social work services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKF24",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKF24",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 1728000,
            "amount": 1440000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "lightTouch"
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning",
        "amendments": [
            {
                "id": "045259-2025",
                "description": "Under 'Description' and 'Engagement' the email address to register for the market engagement event, was incorrect on the original published notice. The correct address to register your interest for the event is: procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}