Award

Integrated Settlement NEET Contract

MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Feb 2026 at 09:47

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Manchester City Council has completed the procurement process for the Integrated Settlement NEET Contract, aimed at supporting young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) or at risk of becoming NEET. The contract has been directly awarded to CAREER CONNECT, a large supplier with expertise in social work services, allowing continuity of service without disruption. The procurement process, guided by the Manchester Strategy, aligns with various local educational and welfare strategies, supporting young people's re-engagement with educational, employment, and training (EET) opportunities. The contract period lasts from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027, focusing on holistic support and bespoke EET activities within the UKD33 region. Key preparation activities are scheduled to conclude with future signature targeted by 31st March 2026.

This procurement process presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in social work services and educational support, particularly in providing comprehensive interventions and support to NEET young people in Manchester. Organisations specialising in career guidance, youth services, and community development are well-suited to engage with similar contracts in the future. By aligning with the City's commitment to inclusivity and local prosperity shared within the Manchester Strategy, businesses can contribute to strategic projects that prioritise support for disadvantaged groups, thereby enhancing their growth potential and community impact within the Manchester region.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Integrated Settlement NEET Contract

Notice Description

The City Council is looking to commission Careers Connect who will proactively champion NEET young people and those at risk of becoming NEET, using a range of interventions and offer the support these young people need. The focus of the work will be to re-engage young people in education, employment and training and to provide holistic support, leading on developing bespoke EET activity/provision and appropriate signposting to specialised support throughout the aforementioned age range with a focus on both NEET prevention and reduction

Procurement Information

Careers connect have been delivering this service since it was awarded in Oct 2023. Our intention is to direct award to prevent a disruption to the vital service being provided to proactively champion NEET young people and those at risk of becoming NEET. The focus of the work is to re-engage young people in education, employment and training and to provide holistic support, leading on developing bespoke EET activity/provision and appropriate signposting to specialised support throughout the aforementioned age range with a focus on both NEET prevention and reduction. This includes ensuring young people that are receiving a high quality IAG offer and have a secure destination and transition plan in place to help them to access opportunities and which prepare them for the next step towards an EET destination. This is in line with our Manchester Strategy and The Our Manchester Strategy aligns with the Manchester Education Strategy 2024-34 and Manchester Inclusion Strategy 2022-25 (pending update) and Manchester Work & Skills Strategy and Making Manchester Fairer 2022-27. A delay or halt to this award would ultimately halt this work being completed and would slow or potentially derail the council's overall strategy for a reduction of NEET/Unknown young people (as this continues to be a priority area for the Children's Services Directorate, the Growth & Development Directorate and the Neighbourhoods Directorate.) Manchester continues to be a city of growth, and the Council aims to increase the number of Manchester residents in paid employment and sharing the prosperity of the city with a real emphasis on supporting those who experience disadvantage. Which is laid out in the Our Manchester Strategy of which this contract and work with NEET young people plays a key part.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0659c9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015911-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85310000 - Social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£520,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M60 2LA
Post Town
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Piccadilly
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CAREER CONNECT

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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