Digital Dash: Expressions of Interest

Westminster City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest in delivering the Digital Dash as summarised below.

Description:

Digital Dash is a learning programme for young people (the age range is 16-30, but the focus is 16-24). Digital dash looks to improve the future employment prospects of its participants by teaching them new skills (digital and soft skills) and by connecting them with employers for mentoring and future opportunities.

The programme assigns participant to teams and the teams compete to design a digital solution to a pressing local social, economic or environmental problem.

Over the course of 12 weeks, the participants will progress through a structured curriculum. This will cover both digital skills and 'soft' skills. The learning from the curriculum will help the participants to design their digital solution and it will give them skills they can take to future employment and/or education.

As they progress through the curriculum and as they design the solution, the participants will receive support from mentors. These mentors will be from relevant local employers. The mentors will support the participants with learning new skills and designing their digital solution. The mentors will also build relationships between employers and participants, with a view of this leading to future opportunities for the participants.

This contract will cover the Dash for both North Paddington (this is Harrow Road, Westbourne, Queen's Park Wards) and Pimlico (this is Pimlico North and Pimlico South Wards). Although this is a shared contract, each area will have its own Dash.

Length:

The contract term is 1 Year (From April 2025), with a possible extension to 3 Years. The contract would be to deliver a dash for North Paddington and a dash for Pimlico within Year 1, with the possibility of repeating this for Years 2 and 3.

Value:

The total value of the contract is £300,000. For Year 1, £50,000 has been approved and we expect a further £50,000 to be approved by 1 April.

The funding for Years 2 and 3 has not been approved.

Next Steps

If you would like to express your interest in this opportunity, please email Kirsty Cook on kcook1@westminster.gov.uk.

Please also register your organisation on our e-tendering portal (Jaggaer), link provided below.