PPDG wins £17.5m contract to deliver new Government training scheme
A WEST Midlands-based employment and training provider has won one of its largest ever contracts – a £17.5m deal to deliver a new Government scheme.
Pertemps Coachright – the sports division of Edgbaston-based Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) – has been selected as a preferred bidder for the delivery of a new National Citizen Service (NCS) contract covering the wider West Midlands region.
The four-year contract will see it build on work already undertaken in the support of young people through NCS over the past five years.
NCS is a government-funded project encouraging young people to challenge themselves and develop their social skills through a range of activities.
PPDG has previously been a sub-contractor but from September next year, the company will be delivering in its own right with an opportunity to develop its role in the youth sector beyond all recognition.
“This is brilliant news for the business and acknowledges our continued success in this arena,” said operations director David Ward.
“We know our approach to NCS works and we know that we can apply the same values to young people as we do with those long-term unemployed clients we work with. It’s a real opportunity to support 16-17 year-olds in the next stage of their journey into employment.”
Steve King, PPDG CEO, added: “This really is an amazing achievement and testament to the input by our teams. This new contract will enable us to support even more young people setting out on their career path.
“It is the latest stage in an incredible journey for Coachright, our sports and recreation division, which joined the business some 14 years ago. NCS has cross-party support and is viewed as key to engaging young people in employment and personal development activities post-GCSE.”
The new contract award will see PPDG and Coachright delivering in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire, as well as being named as a subcontractor within other winning NCS bids.
The announcement follows a comprehensive procurement process which began in January 2014 with more than 350 participants and ending with Coachright being one of 10 organisations chosen to deliver NCS across 19 regions in England between 2015 and 2018.
Doug Fraley, director of operations, NCS Trust, said: “Following a rigorous bidding process, we are pleased to announce the selection of the 10 successful organisations, all of whom submitted excellent applications, not only from a cost and quality perspective, but also from a position of experience and passion.
“We’re confident that we have an excellent network in place in order to further grow the programme and ensure that NCS can continue to reach as many young people as possible across the country.”
A team of 15 young people made up of NCS graduates and non-graduates, known as the NCS Youth Commissioning Team, were also involved in the procurement process.
