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AwardedFind a Tender · award

Connect to Work (Supported Employment) - SEQF and West Kent IPS Provision

Buyer: Kent County Council →

BuyerKent County Council
StatusAwarded
DeadlineNot published
ValueValue not published
Published25 Mar 2026

What is being bought

The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has launched a new national supported employment programme called 'Connect to Work' (C2W). Connect to Work is a key part of the Government's new 'Get Britain Working Strategy' and its commitment to supporting the 1.8m people in the UK who would like to work but are not currently participating in the labour market. The programme aims to support 81,000 individuals per year overall nationally. Connect to work will be delivered by 43 accountable bodies across the UK. Kent County Council (KCC) are one of 43 Accountable bodies and will be delivering the programme on behalf of Kent and Medway. The "Connect to Work" programme is an initiative aimed at providing employment support to individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions, or other disadvantaged groups. The programme offers targeted interventions, job coaching, workplace support, and other support to ensure that individuals facing challenges can participate in and retain employment. This Contract award relates to provision of SEQF Supported Employment Services for Kent and Medway, and IPS Services in West Kent. This also relates to piloting of IPS services across Kent and Medway during year one of the Connect to Work programme. This Contract award concerns the following areas: SEQF (Kent and Medway) IPS (West Kent, comprising Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells). This will also include piloting of IPS provision across the Kent and Medway area for year one of the connect to work programme (until April 2026). The Council has opted to award this element of the Connect to Work Programme to its Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) edseco limited t/a the education people in accordance with the Vertical arrangement exemption under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023. The remainder of commissioned services to deliver the Connect to Work Programme were subject to a competitive procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

Lot details

Lot 1

No lot description published.

Statuscomplete

Comparable-procurement analytics

No usable CPV category has been published, so a comparable market set cannot yet be built.

Procurement strategy & market signals

Framework agreementNot published
Dynamic purchasing systemNot published
Competitive procurementNot published
Recurring requirementNot published
Procurement method rationaleThe Council has opted to award this element of the Connect to Work Programme to its Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) edseco limited t/a the education people in accordance with the Vertical arrangement exemption under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023. The remainder of commissioned services to deliver the Connect to Work Programme were subject to a competitive procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
Rationale classificationsswitchingDirectAward
Special regimelightTouch
Covered byNot published
Submission policyNot published
Selection criteriaNot published
Risk detailsNot published

Planning & early market engagement

BudgetNot published
No-engagement rationaleNot published
Planning documents0
Planning milestones0

No planning milestones published.

Related procurements

No linked framework, prior procurement or reprocurement published.

Awards

Contracts

1

Statusactive
Value£15,292,224

Documents & submission route

  • Not published

Source data inventory

Diagnostic view. “Not published” means this current release does not provide a value.

OCIDocds-h6vhtk-051f71
Latest release ID027414-2026
Latest release timestampWed Mar 25 2026 15:00:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Sourcefind-a-tender
Official notice URLNot published
Tender statuscomplete
Procurement methoddirect
Procurement method detailsDirect award
Main procurement categoryNot published
Above thresholdNot published
Legal basis2023/54
Tender period: startNot published
Tender period: endNot published
Expression of interest deadlineNot published
Enquiry deadlineNot published
Award period: startNot published
Award period: endNot published
Submission method detailsNot published
Submission languagesNot published
Electronic catalogue policyNot published
Total tender valueNot published
Tender lots in source1
Tender items in source0
Tender documents in source1
Awards in latest release1
Contracts in latest release1
Parties in latest release2

Notice history

DateEventReference
25 Mar 2026award, contract027414-2026
10 Jul 2025award, contract039048-2025
10 Jul 2025award, contract039037-2025
22 May 2025planning025374-2025

All source data

Unmodified official OCDS data retained by Tenderline for this procurement process.

Complete current OCDS release JSON
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Complete JSON history (4 releases)
25 Mar 2026 · 027414-2026 · award, contract
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10 Jul 2025 · 039048-2025 · award, contract
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      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has launched a new national supported employment programme called 'Connect to Work' (C2W). Connect to Work is a key part of the Government's new 'Get Britain Working Strategy' and its commitment to supporting the 1.8m people in the UK who would like to work but are not currently participating in the labour market.\nThe programme aims to support 81,000 individuals per year overall nationally. Connect to work will be delivered by 43 accountable bodies across the UK. Kent County Council (KCC) are one of 43 Accountable bodies and will be delivering the programme on behalf of Kent and Medway.\nThe \"Connect to Work\" programme is an initiative aimed at providing employment support to individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions, or other disadvantaged groups. The programme offers targeted interventions, job coaching, workplace support, and other support to ensure that individuals facing challenges can participate in and retain employment.\nThis Contract award relates to provision of SEQF Supported Employment Services for Kent and Medway, and IPS Services in West Kent. This also relates to piloting of IPS services across Kent and Medway during year one of the Connect to Work programme.\nThis Contract award concerns the following areas:\nSEQF (Kent and Medway)\nIPS (West Kent, comprising Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells). This will also include piloting of IPS provision across the Kent and Medway area for year one of the connect to work programme (until April 2026).\nThe Council has opted to award this element of the Connect to Work Programme to its Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) edseco limited t/a the education people in accordance with the Vertical arrangement exemption under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023.\nThe remainder of commissioned services to deliver the Connect to Work Programme are subject to a competitive procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Details of the competitive procurement process can be found below.\nA competitive procurement process is underway, (details can be found at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035496-2025 and www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk), with a contract start date of April 2026 to seek external delivery partners for the following contract lots:\nNorth Kent (IPS)\nMid Kent (IPS)\nEast Kent (IPS)\nThe relevant procurement documents can be found at www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk",
    "specialRegime": [
      "lightTouch"
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "direct",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PLDL-8938-YGYW",
      "name": "Kent County Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKJ45",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Maidstone",
        "postalCode": "ME14 1XQ",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "County Hall"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.kent.gov.uk/",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PLDL-8938-YGYW",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "alison.blackman@kent.gov.uk"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-COH-10970974",
      "name": "EDSECO LTD",
      "roles": [
        "supplier"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKJ46",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "West Malling",
        "postalCode": "ME19 4YT",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "1 Abbey Wood Road"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "http://www.theeducationpeople.org",
        "vcse": false,
        "scale": "large",
        "shelteredWorkshop": false,
        "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "10970974",
        "scheme": "GB-COH"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "sean.carter@theeducationpeople.org"
      },
      "additionalIdentifiers": [
        {
          "id": "PBLN-3559-VBWM",
          "scheme": "GB-PPON"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}
10 Jul 2025 · 039037-2025 · award, contract
{
  "id": "039037-2025",
  "tag": [
    "award",
    "contract"
  ],
  "date": "2025-07-10T15:42:15+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-051f71",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PLDL-8938-YGYW",
    "name": "Kent County Council"
  },
  "awards": [
    {
      "id": "1",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "1",
          "relatedLot": "1",
          "deliveryAddresses": [
            {
              "region": "UKJ4",
              "country": "GB",
              "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            }
          ],
          "additionalClassifications": [
            {
              "id": "75131000",
              "scheme": "CPV",
              "description": "Government services"
            },
            {
              "id": "80000000",
              "scheme": "CPV",
              "description": "Education and training services"
            },
            {
              "id": "85000000",
              "scheme": "CPV",
              "description": "Health and social work services"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "value": {
        "currency": "GBP",
        "amountGross": 15292224
      },
      "status": "pending",
      "options": {
        "description": "The anticipated contract value (based on indicative participant numbers, and all potential extensions) is £15,292,224.  \nThe Council reserves the right to  modify these contracts to include additional participant volumes, and/or additional service areas in the following circumstances:\nThere has been a supplier failure within another lot area(s) within Kent and Medway\nAn awarded supplier has declined to deliver further services under this programme, or is unable to meet the specified participant targets within their lot area(s)\nAdditional Connect to Work Funding is made available by DWP for Kent and Medway\nLocal government reorganisation changes to current Council/district boundaries necessitate amendment of specified contract areas and volumes\nShould additional service areas or additional participant volumes be awarded via a contract modification process, the total estimated value of this lot could range from £15,292,224 up to c£32,000,000."
      },
      "renewal": {
        "description": "There will be potential for extension period(s) of up to a total of 3 years (36 months).  Any extension period taken will be subject to satisfactory performance of the contract, and continued delivery of the DWP Connect to Work Programme."
      },
      "documents": [
        {
          "id": "039037-2025",
          "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039037-2025",
          "format": "text/html",
          "noticeType": "UK5",
          "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
          "documentType": "awardNotice",
          "datePublished": "2025-07-10T15:42:15+01:00"
        }
      ],
      "suppliers": [
        {
          "id": "GB-COH-10970974",
          "name": "edseco limited t/a the education people"
        }
      ],
      "hasOptions": true,
      "hasRenewal": true,
      "milestones": [
        {
          "id": "1",
          "type": "futureSignatureDate",
          "status": "scheduled",
          "dueDate": "2025-07-22T23:59:59+01:00"
        }
      ],
      "relatedLots": [
        "1"
      ],
      "aboveThreshold": true,
      "contractPeriod": {
        "endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
        "startDate": "2025-07-23T00:00:00+01:00",
        "maxExtentDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
      },
      "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
    }
  ],
  "tender": {
    "id": "CN250240",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "complete"
      }
    ],
    "title": "Connect to Work (Supported Employment) - SEQF and West Kent IPS Provision",
    "status": "complete",
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "conflictOfInterest",
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has launched a new national supported employment programme called 'Connect to Work' (C2W). Connect to Work is a key part of the Government's new 'Get Britain Working Strategy' and its commitment to supporting the 1.8m people in the UK who would like to work but are not currently participating in the labour market.\nThe programme aims to support 81,000 individuals per year overall nationally.  Connect to work will be delivered by 43 accountable bodies across the UK. Kent County Council (KCC) are one of 43 Accountable bodies and will be delivering the programme  on behalf of Kent and Medway.\nThe \"Connect to Work\" programme is an initiative aimed at providing employment support to individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions, or other disadvantaged groups. The programme offers targeted interventions, job coaching, workplace support, and other support to ensure that individuals facing challenges can participate in and retain employment.\nThis Contract award relates to provision of SEQF Supported Employment Services for Kent and Medway, and IPS Services in West Kent.  This also relates to piloting of IPS services across Kent and Medway during year one of the Connect to Work programme.\nThis Contract award concerns the following areas:\nSEQF (Kent and Medway) \nIPS (West Kent, comprising Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells).  This will also include piloting of IPS provision across the Kent and Medway area for year one of the connect to work programme (until April 2026).\nThe Council is awarding a contract to its Local Authority Trading Company (Edseco Limited T/A The Education People) to allow a timely implementation of the Connect to Work Scheme within the areas listed above.   \nA competitive procurement process is underway, (details can be found at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035496-2025 and www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk), with a contract start date of April 2026 to seek external delivery partners for the following contract lots:\nNorth Kent (IPS)\nMid Kent (IPS)\nEast Kent (IPS)\nThe relevant procurement documents can be found at www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk",
    "specialRegime": [
      "lightTouch"
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "direct",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
    "procurementMethodRationale": "The Council has opted to award this element of the Connect to Work Programme to its Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) edseco limited t/a the education people in accordance with the Vertical arrangement exemption under Schedule 2 of the Procurement Act 2023.\nThe remainder of commissioned services to deliver the Connect to Work Programme are subject to a competitive procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.  The link to this procurement opportunity can be found in this notice.",
    "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "switchingDirectAward"
      }
    ]
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PLDL-8938-YGYW",
      "name": "Kent County Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKJ45",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Maidstone",
        "postalCode": "ME14 1XQ",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "County Hall"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.kent.gov.uk/",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PLDL-8938-YGYW",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "alison.blackman@kent.gov.uk"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "GB-COH-10970974",
      "name": "edseco limited t/a the education people",
      "roles": [
        "supplier"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKJ46",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "West Malling",
        "postalCode": "ME19 4YT",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "1 Abbey Wood Road, Kings Hill"
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "10970974",
        "scheme": "GB-COH"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "Alicia.Moyles@theeducationpeople.org"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}
22 May 2025 · 025374-2025 · planning
{
  "id": "025374-2025",
  "tag": [
    "planning"
  ],
  "date": "2025-05-22T18:12:01+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-051f71",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PLDL-8938-YGYW",
    "name": "Kent County Council"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "CN250240",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "planned",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKC",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKD",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKE",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKF",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKG",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKH",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKI",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKJ",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          },
          {
            "region": "UKK",
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
          }
        ],
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "80500000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Training services"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "CN250240 - Supported Employment (Connect to Work)",
    "value": {
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 16000000
    },
    "status": "planned",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "Procurement to appoint suppliers for Connect to Work Scheme. The primary focus is on \nsupporting people who are economically inactive (85% of programme) but the programme will also provide \nsome support people who are at high risk of falling out of work (15% of programme).\nThe programme is specifically targeted at the following target groups:\n• People with a disability or long term health condition\n• Specified disadvantaged groups: \no Offenders / ex-offenders \no Carers / ex-carers \no Homeless people\no Armed Forces (AF) veterans / current AF personnel \no People with drug or alcohol dependencies \no Care experienced young people / care leavers \no Refugees (resettled Afghans) / people on the Ukrainian scheme \no Victims / survivors of domestic abuse \no Young people (19+) involved in or at risk of serious violence\no Victims of modern slavery\nKCC will be commissioning a number of service providers to support the delivery of the programme.",
    "communication": {
      "futureNoticeDate": "2025-07-01T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "specialRegime": [
      "lightTouch"
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PLDL-8938-YGYW",
      "name": "Kent County Council",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKJ45",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Maidstone",
        "postalCode": "ME14 1XQ",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "County Hall"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PLDL-8938-YGYW",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "sourcingsupportteam@kent.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "025374-2025",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025374-2025",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK1",
        "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2025-05-22T18:12:01+01:00"
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}