Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bcb-cd46-70df-94ec-c8fa04217096/connect-to-work

awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs

# Connect to Work

[Devon County Council](https://tendernation.io/buyers/devon-county-council)

Estimated value

£3,565,300

Published

15 Jan 2026

Deadline

Closed

3 Nov 2025

## Who can bid

- Buyer says suitable for SMEs

    The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid.
- Buyer says suitable for VCSEs

    The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice.
- Split into 8 lots

    You can usually bid for just the lots you can deliver.
- Open procedure

    Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage.

[More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses)

## About this tender

Connect to Work is a DWP programme grant funded through DCC as the lead accountable body on behalf of Torbay, Plymouth and Devon.

The Programme requires the delivery to the following persons with social disability or other priority audiences who are:

- Economically inactive or unemployed: Person has not worked for around 6 months due to their disability, long term health condition or disadvantages and feel they need comprehensive tailored employment support to help them to identify the right roles for their needs and to engage in effective job search towards work.
- Employed but risk of dropping out of work: Person is working/Self-employed for at least 3 months and is struggling to sustain employment due to their disability, long term health condition or disadvantages. However, it is acceptable to offer support to individuals who have been employed for shorter periods where the Accountable Body judges that would be appropriate.
- Maintaining work: Person has never been in employment or a track record of struggling to retain jobs/sustain employment due to their disability, long term health condition or disadvantages

The programme is delivered through a Supported Employment model - a place train and maintain model delivered through a five-stage process. There are two approaches, both using recognised international standards (Fidelity Models) and both using the principles that participants are employed in the Open Labour Market, it being Paid Work with Ongoing Support provided.

- IPS integrates employment support alongside primary and secondary health services, and other support services. This integration ideally occurs at a physical level, through co-location and other policies, where applicable. IPS has been successfully utilised within the Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) programme to support individuals with mild to moderate mental health and/or physical health conditions. Universal Support will utilise and expand on the approach taken with IPSPC. Whilst Universal Support will complement IPS Severe Mental Illness and IPS Alcohol and Drugs, these will remain separate IPS services.
- SEQF is (as required) a more in-depth intervention than the form of IPS used for Universal Support. SEQF is oriented most usually around supporting learning disabled and/or autistic adults as well as others with complex support needs where clinical integration is not needed or appropriate.

Read full description

## CPV classification

Job search services Education and training services Health and social work services Other community, social and personal services

Source

Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-04e910-2026-01-15T10:05:43Z

[View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-04e910-2026-01-15T10:05:43Z)

Never miss a tender like this again

Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start.

[Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register)

[Buyer profile Devon County Council: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/devon-county-council) [Sector More Business services tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/business-services)

## More tenders like this

[Employee Screening · Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority · 15 days left · 2 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a145df-100b-70ec-8bcc-3630f263230d/employee-screening) [Invitation to Tender- For the provision of viability evidence and assessment of the West Suffolk Local Plan and the introduction of a CIL charging schedule. · West Suffolk Council · 30 days left · 16 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14503-5763-721c-b887-6f844f9f4360/invitation-to-tender-for-the-provision-of-viability-evidence-and-assessment-of) [BaDC-1727 Retford Buttermarket Food Hall Operator Opportunity · Bassetlaw District Council · 40 days left · 27 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14503-57cd-73bf-b1f5-a8a4f0713a79/badc-1727-retford-buttermarket-food-hall-operator-opportunity) [Consultancy Services for an Independent Mixed-Use Viability, Market Demand and Development Options Review - Fleetwood Farm, Banks · West Lancashire Borough Council · 19 days left · 6 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14503-59d8-704e-b46c-727e4a0e571e/consultancy-services-for-an-independent-mixed-use-viability-market-demand-and-d) [UEFA EURO 28 Birmingham Host City - Festival Development · Birmingham City Council · 20 days left · 6 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a14495-7fd3-7021-b8b4-8cbe13597d01/uefa-euro-28-birmingham-host-city-festival-development) [Evaluation specialist Dartmoor’s Dynamic Landscapes programme (natural environment, landscape heritage, culture) · Dartmoor National Park Authority · 14 days left · 1 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a1434c-ece2-7261-8fb5-e68bdb54c1e9/evaluation-specialist-dartmoors-dynamic-landscapes-programme-natural-environme)
