---
title: "Connect to Work (Supported Employment) - SEQF and West Kent IPS Provision"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-051f71"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-051f71"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051f71.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051f71.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "KENT COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-03-25"
---

# Connect to Work (Supported Employment) - SEQF and West Kent IPS Provision

Buyer: KENT COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-051f71

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## Summary

The Connect to Work programme spearheaded by Kent County Council represents a proactive approach to bolster employment in Kent and Medway, especially for individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions. This initiative, part of the government's 'Get Britain Working Strategy', focuses on providing supported employment services under SEQF and IPS models across West Kent, including areas such as Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone, and Tunbridge Wells. The procurement status of this project is complete, with the contract having commenced on 23 July 2025 and set to continue till 31 March 2027, with a possibility of extension until 2030. The Council directly awarded the contract to EDSECO LTD by leveraging the Vertical arrangement exemption under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023, alongside a competitive procurement process for other service areas.

This initiative extends significant growth opportunities to businesses operating within government services, education and training, as well as health and social work sectors. The programme’s emphasis on inclusivity resonates with enterprises that champion social value and empowerment through capability-enhancing interventions. Large organisations, particularly those experienced in job coaching and workplace support, stand to benefit immensely from participating in this programme. The opportunity to expand services and participant volumes, as per additional Connect to Work funding or contract modifications, further highlights potential business expansion, allowing firms to contribute meaningfully to the programme's aim of aiding disadvantaged groups while ensuring sustainable business growth.

## Notice

The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has launched a new national supported employment programme called 'Connect to Work' (C2W). Connect to Work is a key part of the Government's new 'Get Britain Working Strategy' and its commitment to supporting the 1.8m people in the UK who would like to work but are not currently participating in the labour market. The programme aims to support 81,000 individuals per year overall nationally. Connect to work will be delivered by 43 accountable bodies across the UK. Kent County Council (KCC) are one of 43 Accountable bodies and will be delivering the programme on behalf of Kent and Medway. The "Connect to Work" programme is an initiative aimed at providing employment support to individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions, or other disadvantaged groups. The programme offers targeted interventions, job coaching, workplace support, and other support to ensure that individuals facing challenges can participate in and retain employment. This Contract award relates to provision of SEQF Supported Employment Services for Kent and Medway, and IPS Services in West Kent. This also relates to piloting of IPS services across Kent and Medway during year one of the Connect to Work programme. This Contract award concerns the following areas: SEQF (Kent and Medway) IPS (West Kent, comprising Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells). This will also include piloting of IPS provision across the Kent and Medway area for year one of the connect to work programme (until April 2026). The Council has opted to award this element of the Connect to Work Programme to its Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) edseco limited t/a the education people in accordance with the Vertical arrangement exemption under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023. The remainder of commissioned services to deliver the Connect to Work Programme were subject to a competitive procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

### Procurement Information

The Council has opted to award this element of the Connect to Work Programme to its Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) edseco limited t/a the education people in accordance with the Vertical arrangement exemption under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023. The remainder of commissioned services to deliver the Connect to Work Programme were subject to a competitive procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027414-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 25 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jul 2025 |
| Award date | 9 Jul 2025 |
| Contract period | 22 Jul 2025 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £16,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £15,292,224 |
| Contracts value | £15,292,224 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## 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 | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | EDSECO |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 75131000 - Government services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 25 Mar 2026 at 15:00 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027414-2026
- 10 Jul 2025 at 14:52 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039048-2025
- 10 Jul 2025 at 14:42 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039037-2025
- 22 May 2025 at 17:12 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025374-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027414-2026
  25th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039048-2025
  10th July 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039037-2025
  10th July 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025374-2025
  22nd May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-13974
  Redacted Contract Document

## Notice URLs

- http://www.theeducationpeople.org
- https://www.kent.gov.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-h6vhtk-051f71. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-051f71.json.