Connect to Work

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Torfaen Council (BGCBC and TC) are seeking to engage with the market ahead of a planned commissioning exercise to deliver the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) model as part of the UK Government’s DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) Connect to Work programme.

Connect to Work is a voluntary supported employment programme delivered across England and Wales, designed to support disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers who are currently outside the labour market and experiencing ‘Hidden Unemployment’, to find and sustain meaningful employment. [gov.uk]

The programme forms a key component of the Government’s Get Britain Working Strategy, targeting economic inactivity by offering tailored, intensive, and high-quality employment support at the right time for the right participants. [gov.uk]

Participants of the programme must be working-age, eligible, and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work delivers the evidence-based “place, train, and maintain” Supported Employment model.

The Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) is designed to support individuals facing complex barriers, disabilities, long-term health conditions, social, emotional, or environmental barriers.

Providers must deliver:

• High-fidelity Supported Employment aligned with SEQF standards
• A “place, train, and maintain” model of support
• Intensive one-to-one employment guidance
• Vocational profiling and personalised employment planning
• Job matching and targeted employer engagement
• On- and off-the-job support, including in-work progression coaching
• A personalised, strengths-based participant journey
• Close integration with community support services to sustain outcomes

All Connect to Work delivery partners must adhere to SEQF fidelity scales and participate fully in the DWP-led Fidelity Assurance System.

Delivery Partners will be required to undertake fidelity audits, quality checks, and performance reviews, ensuring consistent and evidence-based practice.

The value of this tender will be approximate £1,600,000 over the course of the contract; Please note that, due to the required timescales for the successful provider to mobilise and begin delivery, the Year 1 allocation of funds is expected to be slightly lower. Funding will be issued on a yearly basis, with annual allocations confirmed in line with programme requirements, performance, and governance arrangements.

It is anticipated that the contract commencement date is 01 September 2026 for a period of three (3) years and six (6) months – contract period will be confirmed in the tender documents.

Please note - this is an indicative specification and could change when the tender is released