Connect To Work Programme

Procurement description

Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) is seeking to engage with the market ahead of a planned commissioning exercise to deliver the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) model as part of the UK Government’s DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) Connect to Work programme.

Connect to Work is a voluntary supported employment programme delivered across England and Wales, designed to support disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers who are currently outside the labour market and experiencing ‘Hidden Unemployment’, to find and sustain meaningful employment. [gov.uk]

The programme forms a key component of the Government’s Get Britain Working Strategy, targeting economic inactivity by offering tailored, intensive, and high‑quality employment support at the right time for the right participants. [gov.uk]

Participants of the programme must be working‑age, eligible, and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work delivers the evidence‑based “place, train, and maintain” Supported Employment model.

The Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) is designed to support individuals facing complex barriers, disabilities, long‑term health conditions, social, emotional, or environmental barriers.

Providers must deliver:

• High‑fidelity Supported Employment aligned with SEQF standards

• A “place, train, and maintain” model of support

• Intensive one‑to‑one employment guidance

• Vocational profiling and personalised employment planning

• Job matching and targeted employer engagement

• On‑ and off‑the‑job support, including in‑work progression coaching

• A personalised, strengths‑based participant journey

• Close integration with community support services to sustain outcomes

All Connect to Work delivery partners must adhere to SEQF fidelity scales and participate fully in the DWP‑led Fidelity Assurance System.

Delivery Partners will be required to undertake fidelity audits, quality checks, and performance reviews, ensuring consistent and evidence‑based practice.

The value of this tender will be approximate £1,000,000 EX VAT over the course of the contract; Please note that, due to the required timescales for the successful provider to mobilise and begin delivery, the Year 1 allocation of funds is expected to be slightly lower. Funding will be issued on a yearly basis, with annual allocations confirmed in line with programme requirements, performance, and governance arrangements.

It is anticipated that the contract commencement date is 01 June 2026 for a period of four (4) years – contract period will be confirmed in the tender documents.

Please note - this is an indicative specification and could change when the tender is released

Main category

Services

Delivery regions

• UKL16 - Gwent Valleys

Total value (estimated)

998518.00 GBP Excluding VAT

1198221.60 GBP Including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

01 July 2026, 00:00AM to 01 July 2030, 23:59PM

Caerphilly County Borough Council

Is this procurement under a special regime?

Concession

Is the total value above threshold?

Below threshold

CPV classifications

• 80521000 - Training programme services
• 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
• 85312310 - Guidance services
• 85312320 - Counselling services
• 85312510 - Vocational rehabilitation services
• 85312500 - Rehabilitation services

Delivery regions

• UKL16 - Gwent Valleys

Sustainability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Contract start date (estimated)

01 July 2026, 00:00AM

Contract end date (estimated)

01 July 2030, 23:59PM

Engagement process description

Caerphilly County Borough Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement with suitable providers who are passionate about supporting disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers. The Council is looking to commission services that offer Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) delivery, designed to support individuals facing complex disabilities, long‑term health conditions, social, emotional, or environmental barriers. Participants of the programme must be working age, eligible, and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work delivers the evidence‑based “place, train, and maintain” Supported Employment model.

Caerphilly County Borough Council is interested in providers that can demonstrate:

• Proven expertise and experience delivering SEQF or similar Supported Employment models and related fidelity assurance

• Capacity to deliver intensive, high‑fidelity support

• Strong understanding of participant needs, including those with complex barriers

• Established employer links and knowledge of local labour market conditions

• Skilled Employment Specialists experienced in SEQF delivery

• Ability to meet fidelity and performance requirements with robust governance

• Commitment to person‑centred, strengths‑based approaches

This is an opportunity to work in close partnership with the Council to co-design and deliver services that make a real difference. The Council wants to collaborate with service providers who share our commitment to inclusive, responsive, and empowering support for disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers who are currently outside the labour market.

This Supplier Engagement aims to:

• Assess the capacity, expertise, and readiness of potential programme providers.

• Shape future commissioning and procurement activity.

• Support the design of a high‑fidelity, high‑quality local delivery model.

• Engage with potential programme providers early to ensure clarity of expectations and standards.

If your organisation is interested, please can you express an interest for the preliminary supplier engagement as per the guidance set out below ;

The Council is holding a preliminary supplier engagement event on Wednesday 18 March 2026 at 10:00 Hours on Microsoft Teams.

To register an interest Service Providers must send their request via email to procurement@caerphilly.gov.uk.

All requests must be received by 15:00 hours Monday 16 March 2026.

Please note that this notice is not a contract notice for a call for competition, it is to advise the market of the Councils intention to visit the market for such services and to commence preliminary market engagement. Full details of the service specification shall be issued with the call for competition and fully detailed in the tender documents.

Due date

26 March 2026, 23:59PM

Has the engagement period already ended?

No

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

16 April 2026