ESF Pathways, incorporating Ambition and Pathways to Success, is part-funded by the European Social Fund
Opportunity Sheffield, the employment and skills service in Sheffield City Council, is seeking community partners to deliver employment support projects targeted at people who are unemployed or economically inactive residents of Sheffield. Participants will have barriers to entering employment, training or education to achieve their goals.
This is following the award of extension funding from the European Social Fund which will allow the ESF Pathways Programme to continue until December 2023.
We are looking to commission targeted employment support projects which involve client engagement, diagnosis of barriers, delivery of barrier-related interventions and progression into work, or substantial education/training upon completion.
We are not looking to commission training activity.
A series of Opportunity Sheffield Pathways to Success tenders for 2022-23 have now gone live on YORtender.
Please consult the specifications for individual projects and lots for full information, and attend one of the briefing sessions advertised via the procurement portal.
A brief summary of the current funding opportunities is included below:
Ambition
Targeted support contracts with ringfenced funding
- Total fund available – up to £350,000
- April 2022- November 2023
Funding has been ringfenced to support jobseekers in four high priority categories. Providers may also suggest another cohort they believe requires specialist support.
All projects are citywide, not localised.
Pathways to Success
Lot 1 – Specialist Health Projects
- Total fund available – up to £280,000
- April 2022- November 2023
Specialist health-related support for Sheffield jobseekers with more complex and/or multiple health barriers to the labour market.
All projects are citywide, not localised.
Lot 2- Targeted Core Employment Support
- Total fund available – up to £630,000
- April 2022 – November 2023
Non-ringfenced funding for targeted employment support contracts.
Nine contracts are available from across the categories listed below – none of the categories are guaranteed to receive an award.
Providers will be required to deliver employment support services tailored to the needs of the cohort they have selected. All projects are citywide, not localised.
A 30% allowance will exist to support participants from other cohorts, who do not meet the target audience. This is to ensure the continuity of community based provision, for people who want support from their local provider.
Lot 3- Universal Employment Support (Small lot)
- Total fund available – up to £160,000
- April 2022 – September 2023
Four smaller contracts are available to deliver employment support activity to people displaying any barriers to employment.
These contracts are citywide and not targeted at a particular cohort.
Release 2 – upcoming
Opportunity Sheffield will also be tendering for the following provision:
- Autism: Supported Employment
- Employer Champion for Specialist Health projects
- Wraparound & Behavioural Change
It is anticipated further lots will be released in respect of the above in February 2022.
ESF Pathways, incorporating Ambition and Pathways to Success, is part-funded by the European Social Fund
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