Investment in Supported Internships Programme

Supported Internships (SIs) are a work-based study programme for 16-24 year olds with SEND who have an Education Health and Care plan, who want to move into employment and who need extra support to do so. SIs are designed to equip young people with the skills they need to secure and sustain employment through learning in the workplace.

The DfE wants to build the capacity of the SI programme and are aiming to double the number of SIs from c.2,250 internship enrolments per annum to c.4,500 per annum by 2025.

We are commissioning two contracts to deliver services to meet these aims.

Lot 1 'Strengthening the Supported Internships Programme' with a total budget of up to £5,570,000 including VAT across a 32-month period with an optional break clause at 20-months. This contract will commence 1st August 2022. Activity will include:

Support to Local Authorities to establish and develop SEND employment forums, including administering and monitoring of section 14 grants

Engaging and supporting employers to offer high quality work placements

Establishing a sustainable process to improve the quality of Supported Internship provision, using a Quality Assurance framework

Communication activity

Programme co-ordination

Lot 2 'Delivery of Job Coach training' contract with a total budget of £1,500,000 including VAT across a 32-month period with an optional break clause at 20-months. This contract will commence 1st August 2022. Activity will include:

Delivery of job coach training

Our approach to the commissioning of these services, and associated funding allocations has now been finalised following early market engagement. The full tender documentation can now be accessed on the Departments e-procurement portal, Jaggaer: https://education.app.jaggaer.com (Ref: 6677)

Bidders must submit their Bids before 12 Noon on Friday 13th May 2022. All Bids must be submitted through the Jaggaer e-procurement portal.