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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Connect to Work (Supported Employment) - IPS Provision in North, Mid and East Kent

Kent County Council · Contract details notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 2 Oct 2026, 19:56.

Opportunity overview

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. The majority of participants on the programme (75%) will be supported using the Individual Placement Support (IPS) fidelity model. This opportunity relates to the IPS intervention only. The following contract areas are included in this contract: Lot 1 - North Kent -IPS (comprising the Gravesham and Medway districts) Lot 2 - Mid Kent - IPS (comprising the Swale, Ashford and Canterbury districts) Lot 3 - East Kent -IPS (comprising the Shepway, Dover and Thanet Districts)

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

THE FORWARD TRUST

Matched by number
Published award value
Value not stated
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
24 Mar 2026
Award ID
1
Status
active
Identifier
GB-COH 02560474
Location
London, UKI45, SE11 5DP, United Kingdom

SHAW TRUST LIMITED(THE)

Matched by number
Published award value
Value not stated
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
31 Mar 2026
Award ID
2
Status
active
Identifier
GB-COH 01744121
Location
Oldbury, UKG37, B69 2DG, United Kingdom

THE FORWARD TRUST

Matched by number
Published award value
Value not stated
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
31 Mar 2026
Award ID
3
Status
active
Identifier
GB-COH 02560474
Location
London, UKI45, SE11 5DP, United Kingdom

Classification

No classification was supplied.

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated
  • Lot 2Value not stated
  • Lot 3Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
CN250240
Status
complete
Procurement Method
selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Special regime

lightTouch

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
complete
Entry 2
Id
2
Status
complete
Entry 3
Id
3
Status
complete

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Kent County Council
Id
GB-PPON-PLDL-8938-YGYW

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PLDL-8938-YGYW

Address

Street Address
County Hall
Locality
Maidstone
Postal Code
ME14 1XQ
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKJ45

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - sub-central government
Organisation 2
Name
THE FORWARD TRUST
Id
GB-COH-02560474

Identifier

Scheme
GB-COH
Id
02560474

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PBNG-1368-PHZN

Address

Street Address
Unit 106, Edinburgh House, 170 Kennington Lane
Locality
London
Postal Code
SE11 5DP
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKI45

Contact

Roles

supplier

Details

Scale
large
Vcse
Yes
Public Service Mission Organization
No
Sheltered Workshop
No
Organisation 3
Name
SHAW TRUST LIMITED(THE)
Id
GB-COH-01744121

Identifier

Scheme
GB-COH
Id
01744121

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Scheme
GB-CHC
Id
287785

Address

Street Address
Black Country House, Rounds Green Road
Locality
Oldbury
Postal Code
B69 2DG
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKG37

Contact

Roles

supplier

Details

Scale
large
Vcse
Yes
Public Service Mission Organization
No
Sheltered Workshop
Yes

Award information

Award 1
Id
1
Status
active
Main Procurement Category
services

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
75131000
Description
Government services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ4
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-COH-02560474
Name
THE FORWARD TRUST

Related lots

1
Award 2
Id
2
Status
active
Main Procurement Category
services

Items

Item 1
Id
2
Related Lot
2

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
75131000
Description
Government services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ4
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-COH-01744121
Name
SHAW TRUST LIMITED(THE)

Related lots

2
Award 3
Id
3
Status
active
Main Procurement Category
services

Items

Item 1
Id
3
Related Lot
3

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
75131000
Description
Government services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
80000000
Description
Education and training services
Entry 3
Scheme
CPV
Id
85000000
Description
Health and social work services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ4
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-COH-02560474
Name
THE FORWARD TRUST

Related lots

3

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
1
Award ID
1
Title
North Kent (IPS)
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes
Has Options
Yes
Above Threshold
Yes
Date Signed
24 Mar 2026, 00:00

Period

Starts
1 Apr 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2028, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Mar 2030, 23:59

Renewal

Description
There will be an optional extension period, up to a maximum of 2 years (24 months). This is subject to availability of funding and supplier performance during the initial contract term.

Options

Description
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. The Council reserves the right to amend the service areas a supplier is delivering in, and modify these contracts to include additional participant volumes, and/or service areas (in accordance with Section 74 of the Procurement Act) in the following circumstances: • There has been a supplier failure within other lot area(s) within Kent and Medway, leading to termination or suspension of contract/services and/or reduction in participant profile or scope of the contract. • An 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). • The Council terminates a Connect to work contract in line with the provisions of the terms and conditions, including but not limited to supplier insolvency or change of control. • Local government reorganisation changes to current district boundaries necessitate an amendment to existing service areas and/or participant profiles. •Further funding is made available by DWP. Should additional service areas be awarded via a contract modification process, the total estimated value of this contract could range from: Lot 1 - £4,657,242 to £15,977,975 Lot 2- £6,378,844 - £15,977,975 Lot 3 - £4,941,889 - £15,977,975 (estimated option values exclusive of VAT, based on indicative participant profiles)

Value

Including VAT
5,588,690.4
Currency
GBP

Documents

Entry 1
Id
A-15044
Document Type
contractSigned
Format
application/pdf
Entry 2
Id
035844-2026
Document Type
contractNotice
Notice Type
UK7
Description
Contract details notice on Find a Tender
Published
20 Apr 2026, 19:12
Format
text/html

Agreed Metrics

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Job Starts
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Outcomes (in work participants)
Entry 3
Id
3
Title
Outcomes (out of work participants)
Entry 2
Id
2
Award ID
2
Title
Lot 2 - Mid Kent IPS
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes
Has Options
Yes
Above Threshold
Yes
Date Signed
1 Apr 2026, 00:00

Period

Starts
1 Apr 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2028, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Mar 2030, 23:59

Renewal

Description
There will be an optional extension period, up to a maximum of 2 years (24 months). This is subject to availability of funding and supplier performance during the initial contract term.

Options

Description
The Council reserves the right to amend the service areas a supplier is delivering in, and modify these contracts to include additional participant volumes, and/or service areas (in accordance with Section 74 of the Procurement Act) in the following circumstances: • There has been a supplier failure within other lot area(s) within Kent and Medway, leading to termination or suspension of contract/services and/or reduction in participant profile or scope of the contract. • An 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). • The Council terminates a Connect to work contract in line with the provisions of the terms and conditions, including but not limited to supplier insolvency or change of control. • Local government reorganisation changes to current district boundaries necessitate an amendment to existing service areas and/or participant profiles. •Additional funding is granted by The Department of Work and Pensions. Should additional service areas be awarded via a contract modification process, the total estimated value of this contract could range from: Lot 1 - £4,657,242 to £15,977,975 Lot 2 - £6,378,844 - £15,977,975, Lot 3 - £4,941,889 - £15,977,975 (estimated option values exclusive of VAT, based on indicative participant profiles)

Value

Including VAT
7,654,612.8
Currency
GBP

Documents

Entry 1
Id
A-14546
Document Type
contractSigned
Description
Lot 2 Mid Kent IPS
Format
application/pdf
Entry 2
Id
035844-2026
Document Type
contractNotice
Notice Type
UK7
Description
Contract details notice on Find a Tender
Published
20 Apr 2026, 19:12
Format
text/html

Agreed Metrics

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Job Starts
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Outcomes (in work participants)
Entry 3
Id
3
Title
Outcomes (out of work participants)
Entry 3
Id
3
Award ID
3
Title
East Kent
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes
Has Options
Yes
Above Threshold
Yes
Date Signed
1 Apr 2026, 00:00

Period

Starts
1 Apr 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2028, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Mar 2030, 23:59

Renewal

Description
There will be an optional extension period, up to a maximum of 2 years (24 months). This is subject to availability of funding and supplier performance during the initial contract term.

Options

Description
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. The Council reserves the right to amend the service areas a supplier is delivering in, and modify these contracts to include additional participant volumes, and/or service areas (in accordance with Section 74 of the Procurement Act) in the following circumstances: • There has been a supplier failure within other lot area(s) within Kent and Medway, leading to termination or suspension of contract/services and/or reduction in participant profile or scope of the contract. • An 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). • The Council terminates a Connect to work contract in line with the provisions of the terms and conditions, including but not limited to supplier insolvency or change of control. • Local government reorganisation changes to current district boundaries necessitate an amendment to existing service areas and/or participant profiles. •Additional funding is granted by The Department of Work and Pensions. Should additional service areas be awarded via a contract modification process, the total estimated value of this contract could range from: Lot 1 - £4,657,242 to £15,977,975 Lot 2 - £6,378,844 - £15,977,975, Lot 3 - £4,941,889 - £15,977,975 (estimated option values exclusive of VAT, based on indicative participant profiles)

Value

Including VAT
5,930,266.8
Currency
GBP

Documents

Entry 1
Id
A-15045
Document Type
contractSigned
Format
application/pdf
Entry 2
Id
035844-2026
Document Type
contractNotice
Notice Type
UK7
Description
Contract details notice on Find a Tender
Published
20 Apr 2026, 19:12
Format
text/html

Agreed Metrics

Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Job Starts
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Outcomes (in work participants)
Entry 3
Id
3
Title
Outcomes (out of work participants)

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Maidstone · UKJ45 · ME14 1XQ · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

2 VERSIONS
  1. 016008-2026Contract award notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 035844-2026Contract details notice on Find a Tender ·