Restoration & Renewal Programme Internships and Work Experience Scheme

The Restoration & Renewal programme has a requirement for services to support the development and implementation of an internship and work experience scheme. The Houses of Parliament are home to one of the busiest and most historic parliamentary institutions in the world. They are an enduring symbol of our national identity, and is one of the top five most recognisable buildings in the world. However, it is deteriorating faster than it can be repaired and the longer this essential work is left the greater the risk of a sudden catastrophic failure. In 2018 Parliament decided to create independent bodies to manage the Restoration and Renewal Programme, a Sponsor Body to set the scope, budget and timescale, and a Delivery Authority to carry out the work, and procure and manage the contractors and supply chain. Both will work together to provide a fit, modern working home for our parliamentary democracy and deliver value for money to the taxpayer. As part of the strategic themes and goals for the R&R programme, we are committed to the following goals: 3.1 EDI: Equality, diversity and inclusion is central to the programme: provide opportunities for all, recognising differences in an open and safe environment. 5.2 Skills: Develop the required knowledge and skills and inspire talent nationwide in traditional and emerging professions and trades to deliver a successful programme and secure a legacy for future generations. To deliver upon our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Skills and Apprenticeships strategies, the programme has identified the need to provide a variety of workplace opportunities that reach underrepresented groups. These include, specifically, internships (x5 per annum) and work experience placements (x10 per annum). In 2019/20, the R&R programme took on 5 interns across a variety of functions via the Parliamentary internship programme (which is aimed at increasing social mobility). Now the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority are substantive organisations, work is required to develop an independent scheme that aligns more closely to the specific strategies and outcomes targeted for the R&R programme. The work required is to support the development of the R&R internship scheme, including the sourcing and outreach to candidates, and support of the programme's ongoing operation. It is intended that a partner will be selected and engaged for a period of around 27 months to assist the core R&R Team develop, design and build an appropriate internship and work experience scheme for operation throughout FY2021/22 and FY2022/23. However the programme is keen to develop long term relationships with a partner and potentially secure support for the delivery of additional services, for example in relation to the provision of work placements for adults aimed at target employment groups.