Integrated Settlement NEET Contract

Careers connect have been delivering this service since it was awarded in Oct 2023. Our intention is to direct award to prevent a disruption to the vital service being provided to proactively champion NEET young people and those at risk of becoming NEET.

The focus of the work is to re-engage young people in education, employment and training and to provide holistic support, leading on developing bespoke EET activity/provision and appropriate signposting to specialised support throughout the aforementioned age range with a focus on both NEET prevention and reduction.

This includes ensuring young people that are receiving a high quality IAG offer and have a secure destination and transition plan in place to help them to access opportunities and which prepare them for the next step towards an EET destination.

This is in line with our Manchester Strategy and The Our Manchester Strategy aligns with the Manchester Education Strategy 2024-34 and Manchester Inclusion Strategy 2022-25 (pending update) and Manchester Work & Skills Strategy and Making Manchester Fairer 2022-27.

A delay or halt to this award would ultimately halt this work being completed and would slow or potentially derail the council's overall strategy for a reduction of NEET/Unknown young people (as this continues to be a priority area for the Children's Services Directorate, the Growth & Development Directorate and the Neighbourhoods Directorate.)

Manchester continues to be a city of growth, and the Council aims to increase the number of Manchester residents in paid employment and sharing the prosperity of the city with a real emphasis on supporting those who experience disadvantage. Which is laid out in the Our Manchester Strategy of which this contract and work with NEET young people plays a key part.