We have core expertise in the Welfare to Work and Vocational Skills markets. Jim Carley, co-founder of Carley Consult, has headed up business development teams for two of the leading government suppliers in this sector – A4e Ltd and the Carter & Carter Group plc.

Our current customers include both large and small suppliers to Jobcentre Plus and the Learning & Skills Council (LSC), who collectively deliver key employment and skills initiatives such as New Deal, Employment Zones, Pathways to Work, European Social Fund, Train to Gain and Apprenticeships.

The wider experience of our consultants includes tendering for employability and skills funding from the University for Industry (UfI), The Welsh Assembly Government, Scottish Enterprise, the Department for Employment & Learning (Northern Ireland), Regional Development Agencies, and local authorities.

We are supporting our customers in this sector in preparing for and responding to the government agenda. This includes the growing trend for prime contractor

commissioning models, the greater application of outcome related funding, and the convergence agenda between employability and skills provision. A key aspect of this work is in improving the professionalism, quality and success rates of the tenders our customers submit.

Those commissioning employability and skills services face key challenges in running efficient and transparent procurement rounds that select providers
who offer the best value, performance and quality – not just the best rhetoric. We can help you build evidence based commissioning models that address labour market need, target priority sectors, deliver outcomes, and achieve your strategic priorities and targets.

Whether you are a prime contractor, a subcontractor to other providers, a new entrant to the sector, a buyer of employment and skills services, or if you simply aspire to raise your performance and achievement rates, we have affordable, high impact services to meet your needs.