THE COVID-19 EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME – FUNDING

1. Title: THE COVID-19 EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME – FUNDING2. Awarding Authority: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and Rural Payments Agency, GB Email: E.CLAIMSSUPPORT@dwp.gov.uk / esf.2014-2020@dwp.gov.uk.3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: Call to run a project to improve progression into the labour market for adults recently made redundant or unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic through innovative and vocationally based skills activity leading to employment, including apprenticeships and traineeships, or further training/education opportunities.DetailsEngage, assess, support and monitor jobseekers and inactive people (e.g., through intensive, innovative, holistic, and tailored outreach work) so they can benefit from the programmes on offer in the local area.Harness and develop remote learning innovations, develop online learning innovations, ensure individuals have digital skills and digital connectivity, ensure participants can access a greater range of employment opportunities wherever they live.Supporting participants to engage with modern online job searching and applications, updating and tailoring CV’s to job applications, uploading CV’s online, managing a Universal Credit account online, keeping safe onlineDeveloping labour market information to identify local job opportunities, sectors recruiting, employers’ skills needs and up skilling/training opportunities.Support redundant individuals to develop careers and employability skills to understand and become more competitive in the post COVID-19 labour market.Develop and deliver specific careers advice and employment and skills support for women, to help them make informed career choices and enter appropriate employment opportunities in the post COVID-19 labour marketDeveloping self-employment support arrangements including providing advice and support for self-employment.Broker opportunities with local employers to employ participants e.g. to support them to access jobs, traineeships, apprenticeships, work experience and supported internships for participants, especially those with complex barriers, special educational needs and disabilities.Offer support for employers to offer sustainable employment opportunities.Promote national COVID-19 employment initiatives to employers to maximise the number of new employment opportunities across D2N2.Increase participation in traineeships and apprenticeships.Provide opportunities to link learning to work experience including volunteering.Provide support and a range of initiatives to unemployed and inactive people to overcome barriers to engagement, such as lack of childcare, transport in rural areas etc.Job coaching and wraparound support where appropriate.Work related learning and experience, employer master classes developed and delivered in partnership with employers.Employability skills, workplace literacy, numeracy and digital skills.Work with colleges and independent training providers to encourage them to develop appropriate traineeship and supported internship programmes for participants to progress.Broker opportunities including support for employers to give them the understanding and skills to recruit and employ participants, offer work placements, traineeships, apprenticeships, supported internships.Support, both practical and financial, for travel needs particularly for those in rural areas.Develop effective engagement models ensuring participants have a voice in their development and offer COVID-19 safe support which maximises digital employment and skills opportunities.Make reference as to how the project will be designed and developed to drive forward the Guiding Principles of the D2N2 Economic Growth and Recovery Strategy.For more information, download the Call Specification5. CPV Code(s): 80500000, 80000000, 980000006. NUTS code(s): UKF, UKF1, UKF147. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: Location: East MidlandsLocation The project must cover the D2N2 LEP area.8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: OC08S21P18159. Estimated value of requirement: Value Approximately £ 2,000,000 of ESF is available10. Closing date 10.5.2021 (0:00:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit: 12. Other information: Completion dateProjects must be financially completed (i.e. have a proposed Financial Completion Date) no later than 31st December 2023; however, the Managing Authority reserves the right to vary the maximum duration in exceptional circumstances.Full Application SubmissionTo apply for funding under this call you will need to complete and submit your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT System.Please note: the ECLAIMS IT System can only be access from within the UK.Full Applications submitted in the ECLAIMS IT System after the call closing date shown above and on the call specification will not be appraised.If you do not already have access to the ECLAIMS IT system, please request an ‘ECLAIMS External Access Form’ by emailing E.CLAIMSSUPPORT@dwp.gov.ukYou will need to request an External Access Form for each person in your organisation who requires access.It is your responsibility to ensure you request and activate your ECLAIMS access in sufficient time. We strongly advise that you obtain and activate your ECLAIMS access at least 2 weeks prior to the advertised call closure date, if not sooner.You are also advised to read the details in the call specification in order to produce an application that complies with the requirements and meets the needs set out in the ESF Operational Programme. All this information, the related guidance and the European Social Fund Operational Programme can be found from our homepage.The published ESF Online Full Application Guidance also provides step-by-step advice on how to complete your Full Application using the ECLAIMS IT system. ESF Online Full Application Guidance.Technical SupportIf you encounter any technical difficulties completing or submitting your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT system, please send an email to E.CLAIMSSUPPORT@dwp.gov.ukThe technical support operating hours are Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm and it is your responsibility to ensure you seek and technical advice in sufficient time to complete and submit your Full Application before the published call closure date.The Managing Authority reserves the right to reject applications which are incomplete or not submitted in a timely and compliant way.Contact detailsIf you have any questions about the Call Specification or ESF Online Full Application Guidance, please contact esf.2014-2020@dwp.gov.uk. This address should not be used to request technical supportTKR-2021219-EX-1559909# funding opportunity# COVID-19