---
title: "Reconnect - Improving Work Experience"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-75e1ed06-c675-4e49-81a7-a916545e32e4"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-75e1ed06-c675-4e49-81a7-a916545e32e4"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-75e1ed06-c675-4e49-81a7-a916545e32e4.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-75e1ed06-c675-4e49-81a7-a916545e32e4.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "KENT COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2022-01-05"
---

# Reconnect - Improving Work Experience

Buyer: KENT COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-75e1ed06-c675-4e49-81a7-a916545e32e4

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## Summary

Kent County Council is currently engaged in a procurement process titled "Reconnect - Improving Work Experience." This initiative falls under the vocational training services category and is aimed at addressing the significant decline in work experience opportunities as a result of the Covid pandemic. The procurement is at the award stage, with a contract value of £70,000 set to commence from 10 January 2022 and concluding on 31 August 2022. The services will be delivered countywide in the South East region, primarily in a virtual format with some in-person opportunities, to enhance the quality of work experience for young people in schools.

This tender presents a valuable opportunity for businesses involved in vocational training and educational support, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary community social enterprises (VCSEs). Companies offering services that enhance the delivery of work experience in educational settings, such as training for students and support for vulnerable learners, would be well positioned to compete. The focus on improving work experience initiatives not only helps local businesses engage with future talent but also promotes corporate social responsibility by addressing educational and employment challenges in the community.

## Notice

Kent County Council is looking to procure a service that meets the objectives of the Economic Wellbeing Theme within the Reconnect Programme, as stated below. Work Experience (WEX) declined dramatically over the Covid period and is still very limited as most companies are focussing on getting back on their feet not on supporting the community. Young people are often ill prepared for work experience and do not fully benefit from the opportunities. To mitigate the detrimental effects of Covid this needs to be improved. We wish to procure a project that improves the quality and quantity of work experience in schools. Aims: To build capacity in education by providing CPD and ongoing support to schools to develop their delivery of Work Experience. This will be linked to the Ofsted inspection framework and support the delivery of the Personal Development strand in schools. To provide young people training opportunities on how to prepare for WEX and maximise its benefits. To provide access for young people to a range of online and real world WEX opportunities in a supported way. To promote the benefits of Work Experience to Kent businesses. Details: Timescales - To start ASAP and continue for the maximum allowed period (31 August 2022). Much of the support would remain beyond this in the form of training materials, webinars etc remaining available online. Location - countywide. Mainly virtual with some in person opportunities. Delivery model, including number of students/institutions impacted We envisage two tiers of support, one intensive and one more self-directed. There will also be a need for some specialist support for vulnerable learners in schools and those not in education: Tier 1 - direct support to schools and access to real world placements Approximately 15 Mainstream Schools,5 special schools Tier 2 - 30 schools minimum Access to online/face to face training package and resources covering preparation for work experience, maximising the benefits, embedding in a school. Access to online and face to face work experience opportunities for students. Specialist Support Vulnerable learners often require additional support. We would like suppliers to offer additional direct support to these young people: Additional support for vulnerable learners in special schools in tier 1 and 2 - including interviews and preparation sessions to ensure they succeed in placements. 300 places for vulnerable students countywide for vulnerable students approaching the project directly. They will require support to find placements, prepare for them and maximise benefits

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20581b36-992e-41ad-a673-3dc9e2b5091c |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Jan 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 15 Dec 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 4 Jan 2022 |
| Contract period | 10 Jan 2022 - 31 Aug 2022 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £70,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £70,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | KENT COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | MAIDSTONE |
| Post town | Rochester |
| Postcode | ME14 1XQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ4 Kent |
| ITL 3 | TLJ45 Mid Kent |
| Local authority | Maidstone |
| Electoral ward | Penenden Heath |
| Westminster constituency | Maidstone and Malling |
| Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | EBP KENT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80530000 - Vocational training services

## Release History

- 5 Jan 2022 at 10:54 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20581b36-992e-41ad-a673-3dc9e2b5091c
- 9 Dec 2021 at 12:52 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/85e20ae7-7c19-4b73-84a9-7c7da5b2e927

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/20581b36-992e-41ad-a673-3dc9e2b5091c
  5th January 2022 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/85e20ae7-7c19-4b73-84a9-7c7da5b2e927
  9th December 2021 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.kent.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-75e1ed06-c675-4e49-81a7-a916545e32e4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-75e1ed06-c675-4e49-81a7-a916545e32e4.json.