---
title: "Provision of the Connect to Work Programme In Herefordshire - - Market Engagement RFI"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0564db"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0564db"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0564db.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0564db.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL"
published: "2025-07-23"
---

# Provision of the Connect to Work Programme In Herefordshire - - Market Engagement RFI

Buyer: HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0564db

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## Summary

Herefordshire Council, in collaboration with Shropshire Council, has initiated a public procurement process under the planning stage for the "Provision of the Connect to Work Programme in Herefordshire - Market Engagement RFI". This procurement falls under the services category and is primarily focused on job search, career guidance, education and training, and social services, aiming to support disabled and economically inactive individuals. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, with the deadline for responses set for 6th August 2025. The programme will be executed in the region of Herefordshire (UKG11) and is anticipated to support up to 599 residents over five years, starting from January 2026.

This contract presents substantial opportunities for organisations with expertise in employment support services, particularly those adept in delivering programmes for economically inactive adults and individuals with complex needs. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, with the procurement method offering two distinct lots: Individual Placement and Support and Local Supported Employment Services. Interested businesses stand to gain by partnering with Herefordshire Council to meet annual targets set for supporting individuals into employment, promising potential growth through governmental projects and ongoing collaboration.

## Notice

Herefordshire Council is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) for the purpose of establishing whether there are any organisations that are interested in delivering the Connect to Work programme in Herefordshire. Connect to Work is a new employment programme, funded by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The programme will primarily support people who are disabled and economically inactive. It will focus on vocational profiling, early engagement with employers and supporting people into work quickly. Ongoing support is then provided to the participant and their employer to help sustain them in work. The programme also involves flexibility to support adults at risk of unemployment due to complex needs to be supported to sustain and improve their employment. Herefordshire Council will be working in partnership with Shropshire Council (who is the Accountable Body for the Marches geographic area responsible for Connect to Work) on the commissioning, implementation and management of this exciting programme which will support up to 599 residents in Herefordshire over the expected 5-year programme (subject to government spending reviews). There will be 2 Lots: Lot 1 - Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Lot 2 - Local Supported Employment Services (SEQF) Our ambition is to deliver this programme in partnership with one high-quality provider for each Lot who can meet set annual targets for supporting economically inactive adults across Herefordshire into work delivering the IPS and SEQF elements of the programme. We anticipate contracts will be awarded and commence from December 2025 with service commencement (referrals and starts on programme) from January 2026. For this RFI, we are keen hear from providers who have previously or are currently delivering supported employment programmes and those interested in supporting the delivery of Connect to Work. Closing date for responses: Wednesday 06 August 2025 at 12:00

### Planning Information

Herefordshire Council has published this Request for Information on the 'Supplying the Southwest Portal', project reference DN783822. To view the documentation related to this opportunity you will need to register on the portal if you are not already registered with Procontract and express an interest in the opportunity.
To register with Procontract on the Supplying the Southwest Portal, click on the link below or copy and paste the link into your browser's address bar: https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk 
Closing date for responses: Wednesday 06 August 2025 at 12:00

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042497-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Jul 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 29 Aug 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL |
| Locality | HEREFORD |
| Post town | Hereford |
| Postcode | HR4 0LE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLG22 Shropshire |
| Local authority | Shropshire |
| Electoral ward | Porthill |
| Westminster constituency | Shrewsbury |
| Delivery location | TLG11 Herefordshire, County of |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 79611000 - Job search services
- 79634000 - Career guidance services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

## Release History

- 23 Jul 2025 at 15:24 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042497-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042497-2025
  23rd July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.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-0564db. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0564db.json.