---
title: "Connect to Work (Supported Employment) - IPS Provision in North, Mid and East Kent"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05471b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05471b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05471b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05471b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "KENT COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-04-20"
---

# Connect to Work (Supported Employment) - IPS Provision in North, Mid and East Kent

Buyer: KENT COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05471b

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05471b.json)

## Summary

Kent County Council has commenced the award phase of its procurement process for the Connect to Work (IPS Provision) programme, aimed at supporting employment in Kent's North, Mid, and East regions. Positioned within a competitive flexible procedure, this selective procurement falls under the light touch regime, focusing on services in government, education and training, as well as health and social work sectors. The procurement stage highlights April 2026 as a critical timeframe, marking the initiation of contract periods. The successful execution of this programme promises extensive opportunities in the aforementioned service categories, offering scope for organisations to engage in transformative social impact initiatives.

This tender opens avenues for large-scale service providers and SMEs that focus on employment support, health services, and social welfare. Key contractors, such as The Forward Trust and Shaw Trust Limited, are leading the efforts in executing the IPS model, potentially expanding their service influence across Kent and Medway. The provision for contract renewal and modifications based on performance and additional funding underscores significant growth potential. This tender serves contractors with geographic flexibility and encourages business entities aligned with the programme's mission to enhance workforce participation among disadvantaged groups, thus fostering substantial business expansion and community development.

## 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. The majority of participants on the programme (75%) will be supported using the Individual Placement Support (IPS) fidelity model. This opportunity relates to the IPS intervention only. The following contract areas are included in this contract: Lot 1 - North Kent -IPS (comprising the Gravesham and Medway districts) Lot 2 - Mid Kent - IPS (comprising the Swale, Ashford and Canterbury districts) Lot 3 - East Kent -IPS (comprising the Shepway, Dover and Thanet Districts)

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035844-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £11,518,956 |
| Contracts value | £19,173,568 |

## 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | SHAW TRUST LIMITED(THE; THE FORWARD TRUST |

## 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
- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 20 Apr 2026 at 18:12 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035844-2026
- 23 Feb 2026 at 11:50 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016008-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035844-2026
  20th April 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016008-2026
  23rd February 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-15044
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-14546
  Lot 2 Mid Kent IPS
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-15045

## Notice URLs

- http://www.cxk.org
- http://www.forwardtrust.org.uk
- http://www.reedinpartnership.co.uk
- http://www.runwaytraining.co.uk
- http://www.shawtrust.org.uk
- http://www.standguide.co.uk
- https://fedcap.org.uk/employment/
- https://peopleplus.co.uk/
- https://www.getsetuk.co.uk/
- https://www.kent.gov.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.twingroup.org/en/

## 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-05471b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05471b.json.