The Greater London Authority (GLA) has finally launched the bidding round to procure the Mayor’s European Social Fund (ESF) 2019-2023 Programme. promoting sustainable employment and progression outcomes;
The total value being procured is £59.5m divided into 11 Lots, most of which are further divided into further Sub-Lots covering one or more sub-region or provision type:
- Lot 1: Sector Skills (£12m) – support for adults and young people to gain relevant skills and find work in the construction, health, early years, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), creative industries or other sectors;
- Lot 2: Parental Employment (£6.5m) – support for parents to access childcare, find work and progress in work;
- Lot 3: Higher Level Skills (£5m) – support with higher level qualifications and occupations for adults in low paid work;
- Lot 4: English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) – Practitioners (£2m) – training and upskilling for ESOL practitioners in community settings;
- Lot 5: English and Maths (£2.5m) – improving participation and achievement for adults;
- Lot 6: English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) – Support (£2.5m) – improving low-level literacy and digital skills;
- Lot 7: Continuing Participation (£8m) – support for young people at risk of becoming NEET;
- Lot 8: Gangs Prevention (£3m) – support for young people vulnerable to involvement in gangs and serious youth violence;
- Lot 9: SEND NEET (£6.5m) – support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who are not in employment, education or training (NEET);
- Lot 10: Targeted NEET (£7.5m) – support for young people who have specific complex needs or characteristics and are not in employment, education or training; and
- Lot 11: Careers Clusters (£4m) – improving the provision of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) (Phase 2).
Two further Lots (for Ex-Offenders and Homeless Persons Provision) will be tendered in a separate procurement in Spring 2019.
Tenders have to be submitted via the Transport for London tendering portal by midday on 22 February 2019.
The presentation and questions and answers from the launch event are available on the GLA website and provide a handy overview of the Programme.
Remember, don’t forget to get in touch as soon as possible if you need support with submitting a tender to deliver ESF in London as I expect I will be extremely busy.