Closed tender

RFI for Provision of the Connect to Work Programme In Herefordshire

Details

Buyer: Herefordshire Council
Topic: Job search services
Published: 23 July 2025
Submission: 6 August 2025
Source: uk:procontracts

Tender description

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 Keywords: employment , complex needs , Connect to Work

Timeline

Completed: Tender published23 July 2025
Current notice
Completed: Submission date6 August 2025

About the buyer

Herefordshire Council is the local authority for the county of Herefordshire, procuring through its own commissioning framework. Suppliers register free of charge on Supplying the South West, the council's electronic procurement and tendering portal. Contracts below a set value invite at least three local suppliers to tender directly for the work. Larger contracts follow a formal tendering process, governed by the Procurement Act 2023 and its regulations. The largest opportunities are also advertised nationally through the Find a Tender Service. Bidders above the relevant threshold must register separately on the Central Digital Platform to take part.

UK local government drives £140bn in annual procurement, led by social protection (£66.6bn) and education (£57.1bn).

Over the past 5 years, most of Herefordshire Council's contract awards have been in construction work, software and information systems and architectural and engineering services.

Relevant CPV 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

Decision makers

Connect with the people behind this procurement.

Job title	Phone number	Work email
Head of Procurement	+44 •••• ••••••	••••••••@herefordshire-council.gov
Commercial Director	+44 •••• ••••••	••••••••@herefordshire-council.gov
Procurement Manager	+44 •••• ••••••	••••••••@herefordshire-council.gov
Category Lead	+44 •••• ••••••	••••••••@herefordshire-council.gov
Senior Buyer	+44 •••• ••••••	••••••••@herefordshire-council.gov
Contracts Manager	+44 •••• ••••••	••••••••@herefordshire-council.gov