Contract

Connect to Work

  • Staffordshire County Council

UK7: Contract details notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-009274

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-055b38 (view related notices)

Published 3 February 2026, 9:24am



Scope

Reference

IA3437

Description

The recently launched "Get Britain Working" White Paper outlines the Government's strategy to invest £240m 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.

Commercial tool

Establishes a framework


Lot 2a. Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North

Description

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


Framework

Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers

0%

Framework operation description

Direct award and Further Competition options

Award method when using the framework

Either with or without competition

Contracting authorities that may use the framework

Establishing party only


Contract 16. Lot 2a. Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North

Lots

Lot 2a. Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North

Supplier

Contract value

  • £1,427,283.60 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Date signed

27 January 2026

Contract dates

  • 28 January 2026 to 24 November 2030
  • 4 years, 9 months, 28 days

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 80000000 - Education and training services

Contract locations

  • UKG2 - Shropshire and Staffordshire

Signed contract documents

IA3437 Framework Agreement.pdf


Other information

Applicable trade agreements

  • Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

Conflicts assessment prepared/revised

Yes


Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure

Special regime

Light touch


Supplier

STOKE ON TRENT COLLEGE

  • Companies House: 08043731
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYRD-8568-TCGJ

Cauldon Campus

Stoke-On-Trent

ST4 2DG

United Kingdom

Region: UKG23 - Stoke-on-Trent

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 16. Lot 2a. Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North


Contracting authority

Staffordshire County Council

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZDG-2995-QQMD

1 Staffordshire Place, Tipping Street,

Stafford

ST16 2DH

United Kingdom

Region: UKG24 - Staffordshire CC

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government