Specialist Upskilling Courses

The Combined Authority is seeking to contract with multiple providers to deliver Skills Connect courses to upskill individuals, with course delivery up to 30th September 2024. Progression tracking will end 31st March 2025. The aim of Skills Connect is to support individuals into new roles, new or enhanced self-employment opportunities, or take on additional responsibilities in their existing role, and providers will be paid based on evidence of participant starts, completions and progressions.

Funded by Gainshare, the activity must add value to national & local policy and not duplicate or undermine delivery already being undertaken by other funded provision. Skills Connect courses should be complementary to existing provision, including digital offers under AEB funding. As this training is to be delivered at Level 3 and above, AEB provision may act as a stepping stone onto a Skills Connect course, with the aim of an individual progressing into employment.

Learning needs to be delivered at a level and length where individuals can progress based on the course content. The provider will need to evidence the rationale of content and length of their proposed training course based on expected progression.

Bidders are asked to consider innovative and new delivery methods which meet the needs of individuals and businesses and are encouraged to refer to this scope in their bid.