Decision details

Extension period to the Youth Employability Service (YES) contract

Decision Maker: Director of Children's Services

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The YES contract delivers the Council’s statutory duty to provide appropriate and targeted IAG support to those 16- and 17-year-old young people who face specific and complex barriers to participation and are vulnerable and disengaged from learning.

The provider is delivering the current contract well and contributing to our improvements in reducing the numbers of 16-17 year olds who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Working relationships are well established with the provider and between schools, colleges and other training partners. Extending for the full three years will give the provider certainty and enable plans to be put in place over a longer time period. Re-procuring the contract now would be an inefficient use of resources and distract from the focus on delivery and monitoring of the existing contract.

Decision:

A decision was made to extend by a period of 36 months the Youth Employability Service (YES) contract, up to 31 August 2028.

Alternative options considered:

Alternative options considered were:
- to not extend and to re-procure the contract
- to extend for 24 months

Publication date: 19/03/2025

Date of decision: 19/03/2025

Effective from: 26/03/2025