Award

Integrated Settlement NEET Contract

MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

27 Apr 2026 at 15:10

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

23 Feb 2026 at 09:47

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by Manchester City Council involves the "Integrated Settlement NEET Contract," aimed at supporting young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in the United Kingdom, specifically the Manchester region. The procurement falls under the social work services category and is in the award stage, with a contract value of £520,000. The process involved a direct award method, with the contract awarded to Career Connect. This award was announced on 27 April 2026, and the contract period spans from 9 May 2026 to 31 March 2027. Key milestones include a signature due by 8 May 2026.

This contract presents significant opportunities for businesses in the education and training sector, especially those focused on social work services. Organisations with expertise in providing comprehensive support to young people, particularly those at risk of becoming NEET, will find this an advantageous prospect. The initiative aligns with Manchester’s strategic goals to foster education, employment, and inclusive growth, making it ideal for businesses invested in community development and youth empowerment. Large-scale service providers like Career Connect have already been recognised for their capacity to deliver such impactful interventions, emphasising the importance of delivering high-quality advisory and gated transition plans for the youth.

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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/038188-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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
27 Apr 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Feb 20262 months ago
Contract Period
8 May 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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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