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Tender opportunities for the Steps to Work programme

The Department for Employment and Learning has recently advertised for suppliers to Tender for the following contracts:

  • Delivery of the Steps to Work Programme in the Foyle contract area,
  • Delivery of the Steps to Work Programme in the South & East Belfast contract area, and
  • Delivery of the Steps to Work Programme in the Antrim contract area.

The aim of Steps to Work is to assist people who are unemployed and economically inactive to find and sustain employment. Its objective is to contribute to an increase in the employment levels to 75% by 2020 in line with the Northern Ireland Programme for Government.

The Department has responsibility for determining client eligibility for its contracted provision. Suppliers will be required to deliver provision to all clients referred to them by Employment Service Advisers within the specified contract areas.

The Department for Employment and Learning also intends to undertake an evaluation of the Steps to Work programme in order to:

  • Better inform the Department on the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of the programme;
  • Examine how the programme improves the employability of participants and how it has helped participants progress into the labour market; and
  • Make recommendations, if appropriate, to improve the future performance of the programme.

Further information, including how to download the Tender documents, is available from the Central Procurement Directorate of the Department of Finance and Personnel under Suppliers – Current NI Tender Opportunities.

Visit Central Procurement Directorate website external link

Contract references are as follows:

  • Project  3657 Foyle – Closing date 5 May 2011
  • Project  4862 East & South Belfast and Antrim – Closing date 5 May 2011
  • Project  5017 Steps to Work Evaluation – Closing date 3 May 2011

Programme Management & Development Branch
Department for Employment and Learning