Work with us: childcare support and economic inactivity research

We're seeking to appoint a partner to undertake a standalone research study focused on understanding the role of childcare support in tackling economic inactivity across our sub-region.

As part of our wider Economic Inactivity Trailblazer (EITB) initiative, funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) via the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), this research will inform future programme delivery, influence policy development, and support system change around how childcare is aligned with employment and economic participation for residents not currently supported by traditional welfare-to-work offers.

Local London is one of three sub-regional partnerships delivering Economic Inactivity Trailblazers in London funded through the Greater London Authority (GLA) by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), under the national Get Britain Working initiative. Up to £7 million has been allocated to Local London to test new approaches to reducing economic inactivity.

Programme Overview

The Local London Trailblazer consists of three interlinked delivery streams:

·       Economic Inactivity Support Programme.

·       Business Startup and Self-Employment Support.

·       Childcare Support Fund.

⇒ Read about Trailblazers in Local London

Our Research Request

The research will:

·     Map the current childcare support landscape for economically inactive parents within the Local London sub-region.

·       Identify systemic, financial, policy and service delivery barriers to accessing childcare support, particularly for parents not on Universal Credit or work-search related benefits.

·       Examine the impact of childcare access on the employment and training decisions of parents—especially mothers and carers.

·       Assess the availability of flexible jobs across the Local London sub-region which may be more suited to parents and carers.

·       Provide actionable recommendations to improve integration between childcare, employment and skills provision and health and other wraparound services.

·       Contribute evidence to the pan-London Trailblazer’s wider systems change goals and the policy design of future employment provision.

Key dates and Response Instructions

Visit London Tenders Portal: www.londontenders.org

ITT Reference: DN782427
Deadline for submissions: Friday 1st August 2025 17:00
Deadline for clarification questions: Thursday 25th July 2025 17:00
Contract start date: September 2025 (mandatory)

Budget: up to £80,000
Contact: Portal only www.londontenders.org

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