VCSE Contract Readiness Programme
Expert support to enable charities and social enterprises to compete for government contracts
About this programme
The UK Government spends approximately £290 billion a year on goods and services¹. Charities and social enterprises in England – otherwise known as voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) – are natural partners for government as they share a commitment to improving the lives of people and places.
This fully funded programme aims to support VCSE suppliers in England to work with government clients who can really help increase their impact. It also aims to help public sector commissioners to work with innovative organisations that share their values.
Delivered by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) and Voice4Change England, this programme is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
“The expertise of VCSEs means they are often ideally placed to help create compassionate, responsive and efficient public services.
The VCSE Contract Readiness Programme will help to address some of the barriers that have prevented VCSEs entering the public sector market. It will improve the skills and knowledge of VCSEs on how to bid for contracts and provide them greater opportunity to enter public sector supply chains. This in turn gives the Government the opportunity of having a diversity of suppliers in its procurement chains.”
Claire Dove CBE, VCSE Crown Representative
What’s on offer?
SSE is delivering a range of fully funded online learning for charities and social enterprises charities and social enterprises in England. There are three course types, each designed for organisations at a different stage of contract readiness.
Please follow this guide to enable you to apply for one of our Contract Readiness Programmes that reflects your organisations needs.
| Programme information | 1.5 hour online introduction | Half day online to get you ready to tender | In depth 4 half day sessions online programme over six months |
| Tendering Experience | Never tendered before | Never tendered before or have limited experience | Already bidding for Government Tenders and want to improve your success rate |
| Type of organisation | Charities/Social Enterprises | Charities/Social Enterprises | Charities/Social Enterprises/Consortiums |
| Income of organisation | Turnover between £250,000 to £10,000,000 | ||
| Delivery Area | England | England | England |
| Most appropriate programme to apply |
Webinar – Contracts Revealed The webinar courses have now finished. |
The webinar courses have now finished | The webinar courses have now finished |
Public Services Hub
SEUK have developed a new Public Services Hub containing resources for VCSEs on how best to work with the public sector. This includes ways to improve awareness about the opportunities out there, and programmes to help become contract ready.
The Public Services Hub also offers materials for commissioners to help de-mystify the VCSE sector. These include written guides, links to courses and workshops, and information on some of the funding resources available to help VCSEs get to a stage where they can bid for public sector contracts.
Accessibility
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¹Transforming Public Procurement (publishing.service.gov.uk).