Background
One of the Government’s five missions to kickstart economic growth with good jobs and improved productivity in every part of the country. The ambition is for a more inclusive economy which enables people to get into work and to get on at work, ensuring employment opportunity for all. The Government aims to take a more collaborative, locally led approach to tackling ‘Hidden Unemployment’, to support people to realise their potential through local and national growth.
Good quality work provides people with income, social interaction, and a sense of fulfilment and purpose among many other benefits. It’s known that work has a positive effect on people’s physical and mental health, and their wellbeing, while unemployment often has a harmful impact.
But in the UK, there are 1.9 million people who would like to work but are not participating in the labour market – often due to health issues or disability. The funding for Connect to Work in England and Wales will help around 100,000 disabled people, those with health conditions and people with complex barriers to employment, to seek to find sustainable work each year, by offering them voluntary support based on the high-fidelity model of Supported Employment.
The Get Britain Working Strategy will bring fundamental reform that transforms the Government’s relationship with local areas and ensures a strong foundation with which to work in partnership to support people into good, sustainable work. The first major element to be launched in the Get Britain Working Strategy is Connect to Work.
Tackling ‘Hidden Unemployment’
Connect to Work will take a collaborative, locally led approach to tackling ‘Hidden Unemployment’. It will help connect local work, health and skills support. The funding provides a coherent, systematic and joined up approach to maximise the benefits available for individuals and local communities. York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will determine how the support is delivered in our region, in line with local priorities.
Connect to Work will support the wider development of locally planned systems to drive growth, working jointly with UK Government. It will be an important strand in local plans to tackle inactivity and expand employment opportunity. By encouraging join up between health systems and employment support, Connect to Work will support those, primarily, currently outside the workforce and facing greater labour market disadvantages, to stay in work and get back into work. In turn, supporting the Government’s ambition for a more inclusive economy, supporting local people to realise their potential and supporting local and national growth. This marks an important first step towards the future devolution of employment support.
Further information about the programme including eligibility of participants, participant journey can be found at Connect to Work: Grant Guidance for England – GOV.UK
Connect to Work in York and North Yorkshire
A strategic context
The Connect to Work programme aligns with our overarching ambition for a more inclusive economy that enables people to get into work and to get on at work.
Alignment of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority priorities:
- Delivering Inclusive Economic Growth
- Thriving and Healthy Communities
- Boosting Business
- Thriving Workforce
- Accessible careers support for all ages – Ensuring people have access to right information at the right time
- Thriving Businesses – Supporting employers to develop Inclusive and healthy workplaces
- Empowered Communities – Programmes that support local people to participate and progress in learning and work
- Integrated, flexible and responsive skills system – Get Britain Working Plans: joining up systems, services and support .
How we are developing our delivery model
- Building on expertise, experience and delivery in York and North Yorkshire
- Aligning with current programmes and support services including those funded through UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Get Britain Working Inactivity Trailblazer
- Through stakeholder and partner consultation
- Using intelligence and data of our local demographic and economy.
Current timeline
- April-July 2025; Development and design of local delivery model and plan
- July 2025; Local authority and Combined Authority agree the model and plan
- August / September 2025; DWP final approval of the model and plan and grant funding agreement is signed
- Mid-September 2025; procurement of commissioned delivery partners
- End November 2025; first participants on the programme
Keep in touch
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