Award

Connect to Work Programme

CAMBRIDGESHIRE & PETERBOROUGH COMBINED AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Feb 2026 at 12:21

Tender

01 Dec 2025 at 15:43

Summary of the contracting process

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is inviting suppliers to deliver the "Connect to Work Programme," a supported employment initiative funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This procurement falls under the education and training services category and is conducted using an open, competitive flexible procedure. The procurement aims to address hidden unemployment and support disadvantaged groups in the UK region of Huntingdon. The tender phase closed on 15th December 2025, and the procurement process has progressed to the award stage as of 19th February 2026, with the contract set to commence on 31st March 2026.

This contract offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in education, skills training, job search services, and recruitment. With a substantial contract value of approximately £12.29 million (gross £14.75 million), the programme will establish local collaboration with health services and stakeholders, aiming to support at least 3,738 residents between 2025 and 2030. Businesses with experience in delivering Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) interventions are particularly well-suited for this tender. The supplier needs to manage a local supply chain effectively and ensure equitable access for participants, aligning with local priorities through a zero-exclusions approach.

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Notice Title

Connect to Work Programme

Notice Description

The Authority is delivering the Connect to Work Programme as part of new Mayoral powers to convene local supported employment provision that contributes to the national Get Britain Working plan and the Local Growth Plan. Connect to Work is a new, voluntary supported employment initiative funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It is the first major element of the Get Britain Working Strategy and will take a collaborative, locally led approach It will: * Connect local work, health, and skills support using a "place, train, maintain" model. * Target "hidden unemployment" and disadvantaged groups. * Deliver IPS (Individual Placement and Support) and SEQF (Supported Employment Quality Framework) interventions with high fidelity to national models. * Ensure equitable access through a zero-exclusions approach. * Support at least 3,738 residents between 2025 and 2030. The Authority, as Lead Authority and Accountable Body for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, will commission, implement, and manage Connect to Work. Delivery will align with local priorities and be supported through partnerships with health services and other stakeholders The Authority seeks to award a single contract to an experienced Supplier to manage a specialist supply chain and deliver 3,738 Connect to Work Programme starts, along with associated job starts and outcomes, between contract commencement and 31 March 2030. The successful Supplier will be responsible for: * Building and managing a specialist, local supply chain of delivery partners. * Ensuring access to, and engagement with, the targeted Connect to Work participants. * Overall delivery of both IPS (Individual Placement and Support model) and SEQF (Support Employment Quality Framework) support to the IPS and SEQF fidelity scales2 at the required volumes and profiles as detailed in this Specification.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Contract durations 25 months initially, with option to extend by 24 months. The Authority may, by giving the Supplier not less than three months' written notice prior to expiry of the Initial Term, request the extension of this agreement in respect of the whole (or part) of the Services and on the same terms mutatis mutandis, for a period of up to two years from the day following expiry of the Initial Term.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ec2f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015652-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

79611000 - Job search services

79634000 - Career guidance services

80000000 - Education and training services

80521000 - Training programme services

80570000 - Personal development training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£12,291,042 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£12,291,042 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£12,291,042 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Feb 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
15 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Feb 20264 days ago
Contract Period
30 Mar 2026 - 30 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CAMBRIDGESHIRE & PETERBOROUGH COMBINED AUTHORITY
Contact Name
CPCA Procurement
Contact Email
procurement@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1480277180

Buyer Location

Locality
HUNTINGDON
Postcode
PE29 3TN
Post Town
Peterborough
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Huntingdonshire
Electoral Ward
Huntingdon North
Westminster Constituency
Huntingdon

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

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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