---
title: "Connect to Work"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055b38"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055b38"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055b38.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055b38.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-02-03"
---

# Connect to Work

Buyer: STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-055b38

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## Summary

Staffordshire County Council has recently awarded a contract for the "Connect to Work" initiative, which aims to bolster workplace health and reduce hidden unemployment by linking local work, health, and skills support. This project is a part of the "Get Britain Working" strategy funded with £240 million from the government. The initiative covers multiple locations, including Staffordshire Moorlands, Newcastle under Lyme, Stafford, South Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Tamworth, East Staffordshire, and Lichfield. The procurement follows an open procedure under a light touch regime, ensuring adherence to global procurement agreements. The awarded contract, commencing on 25th November 2025, will run until 24th November 2030 with the potential for a framework agreement allowing direct award and further competition options.

This tender presents substantial business growth opportunities through the provision of intensive employment support, including comprehensive training elements, employment coaching, and support for individuals at risk of losing their jobs. The contract structure, including both direct assignments and competitive tenders for individual lots, offers chances for large entities, SMEs, and third sector organisations to participate, especially those skilled in health and employment integration. Businesses that can align with local government strategies and possess solid capabilities in delivering tailored employment services will find fertile ground for partnership and expansion in this initiative.

## Notice

The recently launched "Get Britain Working" White Paper outlines the Government's strategy to invest PS240m to support this ambition and help improve workplace health and keep people in work, including trials of combined public services for those out of work due to ill health. The strategy will bring fundamental reform that transforms relationships with local areas and ensures a strong foundation of partnership working to support people into good, sustainable work. Connect to Work is the first major element of the Get Britain Working Strategy. It will take a collaborative, locally led approach to tackling 'Hidden Unemployment'. It will help connect local work, health and skills support. The funding provides a coherent, systematic and joined up approach to maximise the benefits available for individuals and local communities. Connect to Work will support the wider development of locally planned systems to drive growth, working jointly with the Government. It will be an important strand in local plans to tackle inactivity and expand employment opportunity. By encouraging join up between health systems and employment support, Connect to Work will support those, primarily, currently outside the workforce and facing greater labour market disadvantages, to stay in work and get back into work. In turn, supporting the Government's ambition for a more inclusive economy, supporting local people to realise their potential and supporting local and national growth. Connect to Work will provide out of work participants with intensive employment support for up to 12 months. It will also include support for up to 4 months for people in-work who are at risk of losing their job. The support will be based on the well evidenced Individual Placement and Support (IPS) or Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Fidelity models as appropriate to the participant. Help will include early access to jobs based on job preferences, access to a wide range of support including job and skills matching, on the job training and help to sustain employment, which might include job coaching at work, training, support from a workplace mentor and regular workplace reviews. Support will be provided to the employer as well as the participant. Connect to Work will also provide tailored self-employment support where appropriate. The planned duration of the programme is 5 years commencing 2025/26 and completing at the end of 2029/30 subject to government spending reviews.

### Lot Information

Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North

Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North. For further information please refer to the specification.

Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest

Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest. For further information please refer to the specification.

Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast

Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast. For further information please refer to the specification.

Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North

Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North. For further information please refer to the specification.

Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest

Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest. For further information please refer to the specification.

Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast

Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast. For further information please refer to the specification.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009274-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 25 Sep 2025 |
| Future notice date | 31 Jul 2025 |
| Award date | 23 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | 28 Jan 2026 - 24 Nov 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £10,708,007 |
| Lots value | £10,708,007 |
| Awards value | £12,849,605 |
| Contracts value | £12,849,605 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | STAFFORD |
| Post town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Postcode | ST16 2DH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLG24 Staffordshire CC |
| Local authority | Stafford |
| Electoral ward | Forebridge |
| Westminster constituency | Stafford |
| Delivery location | TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 7 |
| Supplier names | ACORN TRAINING; INCLUSIVE MEDIA SOLUTIONS; INTUITIVE THINKING SKILLS; NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE COMBINED HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST; ROYAL MENCAP SOCIETY; STOKE ON TRENT COLLEGE; THE GROWTH |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 3 Feb 2026 at 09:24 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009274-2026
- 25 Nov 2025 at 14:02 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076884-2025
- 24 Oct 2025 at 14:28 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068278-2025
- 14 Aug 2025 at 09:12 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048634-2025
- 8 Jul 2025 at 13:37 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038274-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009274-2026
  3rd February 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076884-2025
  25th November 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068278-2025
  24th October 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048634-2025
  14th August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038274-2025
  8th July 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-2775
  SCC E-Tendering Portal User Guide.pdf
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-4261
  SCC E-Tendering Portal User Guide
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8273
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Acorn
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8275
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Intuitive Thinking
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8276
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - North Staffs Combined Healthcare
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8285
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - The Growth Company
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8286
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Acorn
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8289
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Intuitive Thinking
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8297
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - North Staffs Combined Healthcare
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8298
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - The Growth Company
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8299
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Acorn
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8300
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Intuitive Thinking
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8301
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - North Staffs Combined Healthcare
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8302
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - The Growth Company
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8303
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Inclusive Media
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8304
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - North Staffs Combined Healthcare
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8305
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Royal Mencap
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8306
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Intuitive Thinking
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8307
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - North Staffs Combined Healthcare
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8308
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Royal Mencap
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8309
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Intuitive Thinking
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8310
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - North Staffs Combined Healthcare
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8311
  IA3437 Framework Agreement - Royal Mencap
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-11333

## Notice URLs

- http://autono.me.uk
- http://www.acorntraining.co.uk
- http://www.intuitivethinkingskills.com
- http://www.mencap.org.uk
- http://www.stokecoll.ac.uk
- https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com
- https://www.combined.nhs.uk/
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001462-2025
- https://www.growthco.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.staffordshire.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-h6vhtk-055b38. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055b38.json.