The Council has been offered the sum of £3,460,034 until March 2030 to deliver an element of the Connect to Work contract, specifically the Supported Employment Quality Framework model. In order to proceed with the next stage of the grant agreement a side letter needs to be authorised which stipulates that Kirklees Council are an additional delivery area member within the West Yorkshire Delivery Area.
On receiving the funding, the Council intends to contract with its internal department, REAL Employment, to deliver the majority of the programme. A smaller proportion of the funding, specifically designed to support care leavers, will be delivered internally by the Employment and Skills Service.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 16/12/2025
Decision due: 15 Jan 2026 by Executive Director for Place, Service Director - Finance S151 Officer, Service Director - Legal, Governance & Commissioning
Lead member: Portfolio Holder - Education
Lead director: David Shepherd
Department: Education & Communities
Contact: Caroline Keating, Head of Employment & Skills 01484 221000 Email: caroline.keating@kirklees.gov.uk, Allison Porter, G&R Project Manager – Employment Lead Email: allison.porter@kirklees.gov.uk.
Consultees
Cllr Rylah - Education
Members/Officers Involved: Executive Director of Place Head of Employment and Skills Service Director of Legal Governance and Commissioning Service Director Finance