Start Up Self Employment Pilot(s)

Test and Learn pilot(s) to provide an effective and consistent approach to support suitable participants to achieve sustainable self-employment. The objective of the pilot(s) is to inform future development of self-employment solutions to meet participants' needs within the context of wider 'Payment by Results (PbR)' employability programmes. It is anticipated that participants will have a wide range of ability, experience and support requirements. The pilot(s) will support a minimum of 120 participants referred over a 6 month period. The programme and payment model will be split into 4 key elements and will be a blend of 'Service Fee' and Payment by Results'. It is anticipated that the pilot(s) will take approximately 18 months to complete in order to accommodate PbR Outcome parameters.

Explore Screening Undertake an initial screening process to ensure that potential participants are suitable candidates for the programme and can benefit from the pilot(s).

Develop Pre-business start-up stage (Approximately 3 months) Explore Self Employment and its activities, develop the proposition and preparation for Self-employment/business start-up.

Launch (PbR) Go-Live stage First day of trading activity, ensuring all legal and compliance parameters are met and secure evidence of trading activity.

Success (PbR) Delivery stage (Minimum of 6 months) Mentoring, guidance and ongoing in-trading support to the participant, collating evidence of trading as required.

Key elements of delivery should include:

• Three streams of support: 1 to 1, group and peer support. • Suitably qualified and/or experienced business advice, support and coaching specialists providing 1 to 1 engagement at least once a week throughout the participant journey on programme. • The digital offer should utilise suitable platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams etc. • Resources should be accessible, engaging and innovative in the way they provide information, deliver advice and guidance, help referrals to explore all aspects of self-employment, build propositions and launch businesses. • Core Knowledge content delivered across the three channels of support should include: Resilience, Confidence, Business Planning, Tax/Self-assessment made simple, Marketing/Sales including Social Media and research, managing finances, cashflow, forecasting. • A suitable range of media and 'easy to use' templates to help participants develop a portfolio of resources supporting their self-employment propositions and business trading activity. • Activity to ensure business 'Launch' can be achieved in a timely, appropriately and evidence-based way. • On-going 1 to 1 support post-launch trading for a minimum of 6 months to support business sustainability and growth, and gather ongoing evidence of trading.

Expressions of Interests will be required (see Additional Information)

NOTE - Seetec Pluss reserves the right to discontinue this tendering process at any time and not to award a contract.

Additional information: Payment Regime: The payment model will be a blend of service fee and payment on results of starting self-employment and sustaining self-employment.

Contract Value £99,000 maximum.

Please note more than one contract could be awarded within cost envelope.

Expressions of Interests will be required to: • Outline and evidence your experience in supporting sustainable self-employment/Business start-ups defined as successfully trading for a minimum period of 6 months (182 days) • Illustrate your proposed delivery model which meets the minimum requirements of the pilot. • Provide an indicative performance offer and price.

Please register your interest via POP (https://www.seetec.co.uk/partners) and complete an Expression of Interest.

NOTE - If you are not currently already registered on POP, you will need to register in order to log in and access the opportunity.