Guidance to support returners to get back into paid employment.

See 'Attachments' for a Word description. The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is seeking to issue a contract to an organisation to develop bespoke guidance for returners, which will be easily accessible and free.

Returners are defined as those who have taken time out of paid employment to care for children or other family members and find it difficult to return to employment, at the same skill level. Background The Government's 2017 Spring Budget allocated £5 million over two years to the Government Equalities Office to "promote returnships in the public and private sector".

Key objectives include: to increase the number of returner programmes on offer; to ensure employers have the advice and support required to run a returner programme; and to support returners to apply for returner programmes effectively. Guidance has already been commissioned to provide advice and support for employers to run effective returner programmes.

The Guidance The guidance should provide comprehensive and holistic advice, based on current employment recruitment practices, and address returners' particular employment needs. The successful organisation should have some understanding of what support and advice returners need to get back into employment.

The guidance should be written clearly, so it is accessible for all audiences and the final draft should be ready for publication. As a minimum, we expect it to cover the following areas: • Provide advice on current employment recruitment practices including finding appropriate jobs; use of social media; completion of a CV and interview skills; • Provide support and advice that can be applied to any sector; • Information on how to find jobs that offer part-time or flexible hours and how to use appropriate networks; • Advice on how returners can refresh their skills, address a lack of current work experience and build professional confidence; • Advice on opportunities to retrain for a new career e.g. apprenticeships; • Test the draft guide with a sample group of returners to ensure it is effective.

In addition to meeting the minimum criteria, we expect bidders to suggest additional ideas to support returners further. Additional information: 14 February 2018 (approx.).

Once the contract has been issued, we will invite the successful organisation to meet and start work on the guidance immediately. We will also arrange regular meetings (approximately every two weeks) to discuss ongoing progress.

We will consider bids where there is a good understanding of who returners are and how to support them, as well as experience of project management and working with government. We will consider bids that demonstrate value for money and how the guidance will be delivered within budget. A fuller explanation of the evaluation process will be available on the invitation to tender.