Scope
Reference
DN785306
Description
The recently launched "Get Britain Working" White Paper outlines Government's strategy to invest £240m to support the ambition of a national 80% employment rate 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. Connect to Work is the first major element of the Get Britain Working Strategy.
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 funding will support around 100,000 disabled people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to get into employment and on in work. In the East Midlands, Connect to Work will support 12,243 residents across the entirety of the programme.
The East Midlands Combined Authority is the Accountable Body for Connect to Work in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and, working in partnership with the four constituent local authorities, is responsible for the commissioning of Connect to Work delivery.
Connect to Work is a voluntary programme, delivering the evidence-based Supported Employment model, 'place, train, and maintain', via two different types of interventions based on the needs of the participant - Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF).
Delivery is split into 2 Lots, as follows:
Lot 1 IPS only Derby City / Derbyshire
Lot 2 IPS & SEQF Nottingham City & Nottinghamshire
Lot 1. Lot 1- IPS - Derby City & Derbyshire
Description
The Connect to Work delivery partner will deliver IPS to participants resident across all areas of Derby City and Derbyshire. The aim is to enable participants to secure and sustain paid, competitive employment by providing person-centred support that respects individual aspirations. This will support residents to improve their health, independence, and social inclusion while also working towards the regional and national target of 80% of working age people being in employment.
Lot 2. Lot 2-IPS & SEQF-Nottingham & Nottinghamshire
Description
The Connect to Work delivery partner will deliver IPS and SEQF to participants resident across all areas of Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire. The aim is to enable participants to secure and sustain paid, competitive employment by providing person-centred support that respects individual aspirations. This will support residents to improve their health, independence, and social inclusion while also working towards the regional and national target of 80% of working age people being in employment.
Contract 1. Lot 1-IPS Only-Derby City & Derbyshire
Lots
Lot 1. Lot 1- IPS - Derby City & Derbyshire
Supplier
Contract value
- £12,200,000 excluding VAT
- £14,640,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
1 December 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
1 December 2025
Standstill period
- End: 12 December 2025
- 9 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
2 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 January 2026 to 31 March 2030
- 4 years, 2 months, 30 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 75131000 - Government services
- 79634000 - Career guidance services
- 80521000 - Training programme services
Contract locations
- UKF1 - Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Contract 2. Lot 2-IPS & SEQF-Nottinghamshire & Nottingham City
Lots
Lot 2. Lot 2-IPS & SEQF-Nottingham & Nottinghamshire
Supplier
Contract value
- £20,400,000 excluding VAT
- £24,480,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
1 December 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
1 December 2025
Standstill period
- End: 12 December 2025
- 9 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
2 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 January 2026 to 31 March 2030
- 4 years, 2 months, 30 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 75131000 - Government services
- 79634000 - Career guidance services
- 80521000 - Training programme services
Contract locations
- UKF1 - Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Information about tenders
Lot 1. Lot 1- IPS - Derby City & Derbyshire
- 7 tenders received
- 7 tenders assessed in the final stage:
- 1 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 1 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 6 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Unsuccessful suppliers
- Derby City Council
- INGEUS UK LIMITED
- MAXIMUS UK SERVICES LIMITED
- STANDGUIDE LIMITED
- SHAW TRUST LIMITED(THE)
- WORKPAYS LIMITED
Lot 2. Lot 2-IPS & SEQF-Nottingham & Nottinghamshire
- 11 tenders received
- 8 tenders assessed in the final stage:
- 3 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 2 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 7 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Unsuccessful suppliers
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Suppliers
ASURIA PEOPLE SERVICES (UK) LIMITED
- Companies House: 12855245
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLRM-8617-ZTCW
6th Floor 9 Appold Street
London
EC2A 2AP
United Kingdom
Email: kevin.browne@asuria.com.au
Website: http://www.asuria.com.au
Region: UKI41 - Hackney and Newham
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Associated people/organisations:
Standguide - Clarence Arcade, Stamford Street Central, Ashton-Under-Lyne, England, OL6 7PT
PeoplePlus - The Quorum, Bond Street South, Bristol, BS1 3AE,
Futures: 57 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6GE,
Better Health Generation - Building 4 Foundation Park, Maidenhead, SL6 3UD,
Transform & Achieve: 61 Hayes Lane, Kenley, CR8 5JR,
Earlybird (part of Career Ear)-International House, London, SW9 7QD,
Contract 2. Lot 2-IPS & SEQF-Nottinghamshire & Nottingham City
COMMUNITY TRAINING PORTAL LIMITED
- Companies House: 05096438
- UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number): 10020068
260-270 Butterfield Great Marlings
Luton
LU2 8DL
United Kingdom
Website: https://ctportal.org/
Region: UKH21 - Luton
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Derby City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQVM-1383-ZBXP
The Council House - Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2FS
United Kingdom
Website: https://www.derby.gov.uk/
Region: UKF11 - Derby
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
EAST MIDLANDS CHAMBER (DERBYSHIRE, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, LEICESTERSHIRE)
- Companies House: 01785710
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCRV-4774-RGLX
Commerce House Millennium Way
Chesterfield
S41 8ND
United Kingdom
Website: https://www.emc-dnl.co.uk
Region: UKF12 - East Derbyshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
INGEUS UK LIMITED
- Companies House: 04320853
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQWB-9993-TBMX
Second Floor, 66-68 East Smithfield
London
E1W 1AW
United Kingdom
Website: http://ingeus.co.uk
Region: UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
MAXIMUS UK SERVICES LIMITED
- Companies House: 09072343
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTZH-8512-MRCL
18c Meridian East
Leicester
LE19 1WZ
United Kingdom
Website: http://www.maximusuk.co.uk
Region: UKF22 - Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
QDOS TRAINING LIMITED
- Companies House: 06012731
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTNJ-6991-WVCJ
Byron House
Mansfield
NG18 1EE
United Kingdom
Website: http://www.qdostraining.com
Region: UKF15 - North Nottinghamshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
REED IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
- Companies House: 00851645
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRBL-7293-HRJP
Academy Court, 94 Chancery Lane
London
WC2A 1DT
United Kingdom
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Associated people/organisations:
Associated Person/Sub-Contractor 1:
East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire): Will provide end-to-end delivery in High Peak (Out-of-Work) and 100% of In-work Retention support across all of Lot 1.
Associated Person/Sub-Contractor 2:
YMCA Derbyshire: Our referrals partner will provide 28% of Reed's referrals/programme-starts (no end-to-end delivery).
Contract 1. Lot 1-IPS Only-Derby City & Derbyshire
SHAW TRUST LIMITED(THE)
- Companies House: 01744121
- Charity Commission (England and Wales): 287785
Black Country House, Rounds Green Road
Oldbury
B69 2DG
United Kingdom
Website: http://www.shawtrust.org.uk
Region: UKG37 - Sandwell
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): Yes
STANDGUIDE LIMITED
- Companies House: 02563257
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXVG-4195-YZCQ
Unit G.01 Clarence Arcade
Ashton-Under-Lyne
OL6 7PT
United Kingdom
Website: http://www.standguide.co.uk
Region: UKD35 - Greater Manchester South East
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
THE GROWTH COMPANY LIMITED
- Companies House: 02443911
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLRD-7665-DLPV
Lee House
Manchester
M1 5JW
United Kingdom
Website: https://www.growthco.uk/
Region: UKD33 - Manchester
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): Yes
WORKPAYS LIMITED
- Companies House: 07387325
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCHM-6658-QLRM
Floors 1 and 2, 4 Babington Lane
Derby
DE1 1SU
United Kingdom
Website: http://www.workpays.co.uk
Region: UKF11 - Derby
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contracting authority
East Midlands Combined County Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZXR-6887-DRNP
Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre
Chesterfield
S40 1UT
United Kingdom
Region: UKF12 - East Derbyshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
Nottinghamshire County Council
Summary of their role in this procurement: Procurement conducted on behalf of EMCCA
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBCV-5152-BXBP
County Hall, Loughborough Road
Nottingham
NG2 7QP
United Kingdom
Email: prpc@nottscc.gov.uk
Region: UKF16 - South Nottinghamshire