Are you a training provider? Read our tender to deliver a meaningful programme of activity to help NEET young people

Background

Game Changer is a £4.6 million project funded by The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) and European Social Fund (ESF) which will run until December 2021 designed to support 1491 young people aged 15 to 24 who are NEET (not in employment/ education or training) or at risk of NEET across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

It will support young people to overcome the challenges, sometimes complex, they face; understand their individual aptitudes, passions and interests; develop skills and experiences; build connectivity and networks, resulting in improved confidence, removal of previous barriers, increased skills levels and ultimately them progressing into work, apprenticeships or long-term learning/ training.

The offer: Provision of pre-employment training to include functional skills

This invitation is an opportunity for training providers to deliver a meaningful programme of activity or project that enables NEET young people to achieve functional skills (Maths and English) whilst preparing them for employment or further training. Game Changer has resource funds that can enable providers to develop young people’s skills and qualifications, remove barriers and take their next step in progression. This is not a replacement for mainstream funding for functional skills. Young people who have no prior Level 2 qualification are entitled to funded support from SFA to achieve Functional Skills qualifications under mainstream provision. This funding must not replace this. The expectation is that the applicant would access the relevant/appropriate mainstream funding where available or be able to demonstrate how this is added value or innovation.

Game Changer is looking to commission suitable providers who can support young people to develop skills and employability either towards particular careers or broader skills to assist with their futures with the inclusion of the achievement of basic skills. We are looking for engaging provision that meets the needs of young people who are NEET enabling them to achieve. We expect to see young people gain confidence, wider skills and also secure their next steps due to this provision.

This provision should be available to young people who are NEET and have not yet secured their Maths/ English to L2. We would welcome applications that might focus on specific groups who have been disadvantaged/ have lower achievement rates of basic skills/ employment outcomes.

Outcomes:

All participants to be participating in basic skills development

• 75% successfully complete provision (participation)
• 60% successfully gain basic skills accreditation or eligible other *
• 50% achieve a positive progression into employment, further education or learning.

*The aim of the provision is for participants to obtain an accredited qualification in Math and/or English up to Level 2 or evidence to show an improvement of current skills. Qualifications can be in units rather than full qualifications, tracking improvement in basic skills must demonstrate quality assessment and learning has taken place and rationale as to why qualifications are not suitable.

The Pre-Employment and Functional Skills contract must be completed by November 2021. There may be an opportunity for extension/ repeat subject to funding extensions to 2023.

Requirements of funding

Examples of how the resource might be utilised:

• Enabling the provider to resource smaller groups that enable young people eligible to participate.
• Project based delivery of functional skills
• To provide courses/training in more rural locations for eligible participants.
• Support to re-design training to meet NEET learner needs
• Provide contextual learning or engagement that supports individuals.
• Support an eligible participant to join existing groups of learners to achieve Functional Skills qualifications
• Innovate delivery to make it more appropriate attractive/ increase engagement and retention of these specific learners.

This list is not exhaustive, but all provision must meet the eligibility requirements of ESF and TNLCF.

Payment Profile

For the provision of the above identified objectives, based on results achieved of functional skills unit/qualification. The maximum amount of money is £70,000; this will be split across a maximum of 7 contracts for delivery through to November 2021. This commission has no minimum for size of applications, but the maximum is for the value of £10,000, and would be expected to work with a cohort of approx 20 eligible young people for this contract value. Applications will be assessed on a value for money and quality basis. There may be further opportunities to extend or repeat provision subject to funding and performance.

Requirements

As this is an ESF/TNLCF funded programme, the provision of the training programme held within this contract will need to be run in compliance with Funder’s guidelines and delivery is therefore subject to robust quality assurance and compliance monitoring processes.

The chosen organisation will be required to deliver the following provision:

• Highlight eligible participants to the Game Changer programme.
• Deliver pre-employment or pre training support to participants.
• Participants must be fully signed onto programme with all relevant paperwork completed including evidence of eligibility.
• Action plans must be reviewed a minimum of every 4 weeks with written reviews
• Tenders should include participant spend and cover travel/ childcare/ resources.
• All publicity guidelines must be followed
• Provision must include functional skills.
• Provision must support participants to progress into employment, apprenticeship, education or training on completion.

Organisations are invited to submit proposals to include the number of participants and time scales they are able to engage with to achieve the required outputs within the contract sum.

Full Tender Tender profilingTender response document

Delivery Specifications

Functional Skills suppliers are required to ensure they deliver programmes that are in compliance with the awarding body requirements including Maths and English qualifications.

The successful tenderer will be expected to:

• Provide evidence of having previously successfully delivered Functional Skills on a commensurate scale
• Undertake initial engagement meetings with participants, which will include the completion of Game Changer sign up paperwork and diagnostic assessments
• Provide participants with high quality learning throughout the duration of their programme
  • demonstrating this through planned hour
  • English and Maths assessments and requirements
  • Personal and social development
• Have a staffing structure that enables individuals to be supported and inputted to the Game Changer participant tracking system
• Provide evidence of previous retention, achievements and success rates for a similar cohort of learners that meet above expected standards.
• Manage individual participant records that comply with the Game Changer’s contract requirements
• Partake in monthly reviews
• Understand and comply with ESF and TNLCF requirements for eligible spend.

Timeline for delivering the work

Selection criteria

Primary factors that the panel will use as decision making tools will be value for money, added value, previous experience and ability to deliver excellence.

Full tenderTender profilingTender response document

Responding to this Invitation to Tender

Please email you submission to Louisa Luke, Contract Manager for the Game Changer programme, on louisa.luke@realideas.org – Open tender deadlines: 28th May 2021

Closed: 1st round of submission deadline 6th April 2021. Applications received after 6th April 2021 will be reviewed again on 30th April.

For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Kate Reed, Head of Employability & Pathways on 07817122339 or email kate.reed@realideas.org