Connect to Work IPS Supported Employment Contracts Kent £19.2m
Summary
Kent County Council has published contract award details for the delivery of Individual Placement Support (IPS) Supported Employment services across North, Mid, and East Kent. The North Kent contract (Lot 1) is valued at £5,588,690.40 and runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028 with a possible extension to 31 March 2030. The programme forms part of the DWP's national Connect to Work initiative under the Get Britain Working Strategy.
What changed
Kent County Council has published contract award information for three lots of Individual Placement Support (IPS) Supported Employment provision across Kent. The North Kent contract (Lot 1) with a value of £5,588,690.40 has been awarded, covering Gravesham and Medway districts with approximately 1,358 participants expected to be supported. The contract runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028, with an optional extension period of up to 24 months subject to funding availability and supplier performance.
IPS providers and supported employment service organisations should note that additional participant volumes or service areas may be added via contract modification under Section 74 of the Procurement Act 2023, particularly in cases of supplier failure, declining services, contract termination, or local government reorganisation. The programme is governed by the Procurement Act 2023 and aligns with DWP's Connect to Work national framework.
Archived snapshot
Apr 21, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Contract
Connect to Work (Supported Employment) - IPS Provision in North, Mid and East Kent
- Kent County Council UK7: Contract details notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types
Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-035844
Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05471b (view related notices)
Published 20 April 2026, 7:12pm
Watch this notice
Contents
Scope Lots (3)
- Lot 1. North Kent (IPS)
- Lot 2. Mid Kent (IPS)
- Lot 3. East Kent (IPS)
Contracts (3)
- Contract 1. North Kent (IPS)
- Contract 2. Lot 2 - Mid Kent IPS
- Contract 3. East Kent
Submission Other information Procedure Suppliers (2)
- SHAW TRUST LIMITED(THE)
- THE FORWARD TRUST
Contracting authority
Download
Share this notice
-
Print this notice Report concerns about this procurement
Scope
Reference
CN250240
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.
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)
Lot 1. North Kent (IPS)
Description
The North Kent (IPS) lot includes the following district areas: Gravesham and Medway. The successful provider will be expected to deliver all IPS Supported Employment provision within this lot area.It is anticipated that c.1358 participants in total will be supported within this area for the duration of the programme. Further information relating to the services and volumes to be delivered can be found in the procurement documents.
Lot 2. Mid Kent (IPS)
Description
The Mid Kent (IPS) lot includes the following district areas: Swale, Ashford and Canterbury. The successful provider will be expected to deliver all IPS Supported Employment provision within this lot area.It is anticipated that c.1860 participants in total will be supported within this area for the duration of the programme. Further information relating to the services and volumes to be delivered can be found in the procurement documents.
Lot 3. East Kent (IPS)
Description
The East Kent (IPS) lot includes the following district areas: Swale, Ashford and Canterbury. The successful provider will be expected to deliver all IPS Supported Employment provision within this lot area.It is anticipated that 1441 participants in total will be supported within this area for the duration of the programme. Further information relating to the services and volumes to be delivered can be found in the procurement documents.
Contract 1. North Kent (IPS)
Lots
Lot 1. North Kent (IPS)
Supplier
Contract value
- £5,588,690.40 including VAT Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
24 March 2026
Contract dates
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years Description of possible extension:
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.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
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)
CPV classifications
Government services
Education and training services
Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKJ4 - Kent
Key performance indicators
| Name |
|---|
| Job Starts |
| Outcomes (in work participants) |
| Outcomes (out of work participants) |
Signed contract documents
CN250240 - Connect to Work Contract FT_Redacted.pdf
Contract 2. Lot 2 - Mid Kent IPS
Lots
Lot 2. Mid Kent (IPS)
Supplier
Contract value
- £7,654,612.80 including VAT Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
1 April 2026
Contract dates
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years Description of possible extension:
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.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
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)
CPV classifications
Government services
Education and training services
Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKJ4 - Kent
Key performance indicators
| Name |
|---|
| Job Starts |
| Outcomes (in work participants) |
| Outcomes (out of work participants) |
Signed contract documents
CN250240 - Connect to Work Contract Shaw Trust Sealed_Redacted.pdf
Lot 2 Mid Kent IPS
Contract 3. East Kent
Lots
Lot 3. East Kent (IPS)
Supplier
Contract value
- £5,930,266.80 including VAT Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
1 April 2026
Contract dates
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028
- Possible extension to 31 March 2030
- 4 years Description of possible extension:
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.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
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)
CPV classifications
Government services
Education and training services
Health and social work services
Contract locations
- UKJ4 - Kent
Key performance indicators
| Name |
|---|
| Job Starts |
| Outcomes (in work participants) |
| Outcomes (out of work participants) |
Signed contract documents
CN250240 - Connect to Work Contract FT_Redacted.pdf
Submission
Submission type
Requests to participate
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Suppliers
SHAW TRUST LIMITED(THE)
- Companies House: 01744121
- Charity Commission (England and Wales): 287785 Black Country House, Rounds Green Road
Oldbury
B69 2DG
United Kingdom
Email: business.development@shaw-trust.org.uk
Website: http://www.shawtrust.org.uk
Region: UKG37 - Sandwell
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): Yes
Supported employment provider: Yes
Public service mutual: No
Contract 2. Lot 2 - Mid Kent IPS
THE FORWARD TRUST
- Companies House: 02560474
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBNG-1368-PHZN Unit 106, Edinburgh House, 170 Kennington Lane
London
SE11 5DP
United Kingdom
Email: development@forwardtrust.org.uk
Website: http://www.forwardtrust.org.uk
Region: UKI45 - Lambeth
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): Yes
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. North Kent (IPS)
Contract 3. East Kent
Contracting authority
Kent County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLDL-8938-YGYW County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
United Kingdom
Email: alison.blackman@kent.gov.uk
Website: https://www.kent.gov.uk /
Region: UKJ45 - Mid Kent
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Related changes
Get daily alerts for Find a Tender - Latest Notices
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from KCC.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when Find a Tender - Latest Notices publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.