Employer Support Programme Year Two

As announced by the government, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been chosen as one of eight areas to lead a Get Britain Working Economic Inactivity Trailblazer. 

A test and learn project exploring ways of delivering effective support and joining up systems and services with the overarching ambition of delivering good work for our residents.  

A key part of this government’s mission to kick-start growth is a commitment to building an inclusive and thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity of Good Work, and the chance to get on at work. 

The Get Britain Working White Paper quotes:

“Building a thriving and inclusive labour market and increasing the number of people in work is central to achieving the government’s number one mission to grow the economy”. 

A quarter of the UK population aged 16 to 64, live with a long-term health condition that limits their daily activities. Many of these individuals are eager to work but face significant barriers, including difficulty finding suitable roles, accessing timely and tailored support, and securing appropriate workplace adjustments. Similar issues are also affecting those employed meaning they face the possibility of becoming economically inactive, when they would rather not.  

The Trailblazer programme aims to help 1,500 people seeking work, 500 people already in work who need support and 150 employers. It will focus on 3 overarching priorities: 

1) Engaging and Supporting Inactive People 

2) Good Work – Supporting Employers 

3) Joining up Systems and Services 

The Employer Support Programme will be delivered as part of the Good Work – Supporting Employers priority. 

Employers play a vital role, in creating Good Work opportunities, and reducing current and future economic inactivity.

After consultation with and feedback from employers and delivery partners, we have identified that there is a need for a range of support, for employers across York and North Yorkshire, including:  

•  HR and Occupational Health Support – long term sickness/absence is an issue. In YNY, most businesses are microbusinesses with fewer than 10 employees and often lack in-house HR and occupational health support 
• Support with mental and physical health issues in the workplace 
• Changes to whole workplace/workforce/culture – To build the capabilities of employers and the wider workforce to create and sustain inclusive, supportive, and healthy workplace environments 
• Leadership, Management, Team Leader Support and Development – to equip employers and their teams with the skills, knowledge and practical tools to deliver successful inclusive recruitment, retention and progression 
• 1:1 support – To implement and embed changes 1:1 not just training/toolkits 
• Support with neurodiversity in the workplace 
• Business Needs Assessment – Structured assessments to explore specific needs, challenges and opportunities, helping identify the most relevant and effective support and training interventions 
• Tailored, Flexible Support – Offering a range of support options, from one-off training sessions and workshops to ongoing consultancy and mentoring enabling employers to learn, apply and sustain changes and benefit from multi-level, progressive support 

We are excited to hear from providers as to how their Employer Support Project can address the needs and objectives outlined above, as well as how this will deliver lasting impact and positive change. 

Applicants will be required to demonstrate how their project will deliver against the following Outputs and Outcomes.

• Number of employers receiving support (advice, information)
  Number of employers adapting and embedding inclusive processes/practices

• Number of employers retaining workers at risk of becoming economically inactive/with health conditions
  Number of employers better equipped to retain those at risk of becoming economically inactive/those with health conditions

• Number of employers recruiting workers previously economically inactive/with health conditions
  Number of employers better equipped to recruit economically inactive workers/those at risk of becoming economically inactive/those with health conditions

• Number of people economically inactive/at risk of becoming economically inactive, becoming self-employed
  Number of people supported to become enterprise ready

As part of the application, you will be asked to specify the quantities of outputs and outcomes that you expect your project will achieve. (There is no expectation to select all Outputs and Outcomes, and support must be a minimum of 3 hours) 

Applications will be accepted from organisations including individual organisations, partnerships, or consortiums. (This list is not exhaustive)  

Joint and collaborative applications are strongly encouraged, especially where provision will be complementary. The conditions and strength of any partnership submission will be considered during the programme appraisal process.  

Where an application is submitted by a partnership or consortium on behalf of multiple organisations, a ‘lead applicant’ must be identified to complete the application, enter into the funding agreement, and to distribute the funding amongst its partners. The lead applicant will act as an accountable body for the programme. All delivery partners should be clearly outlined in the application, and a signed declaration will be required as proof of each partner organisation’s commitment.   

Total Value (revenue only)

£1m

Open window for applications

3 weeks

Amount of grant funding available (revenue only) (individual grant limits)

£100,000 – £249,999 

Delivery window

April 2026 – March 2027

As part of the application, you will be asked to provide a full breakdown of project costs and a cash flow forecast. Applications need to cover all costs required for delivery of the programme in full, as no additional costs, will be considered.  

This is not a capital fund and therefore cannot fund: 

• Costs associated with the maintenance of buildings, classrooms and workshops, or capital work which has already been planned and scheduled 

• Costs of developing new build facilities   

• Costs of purchasing equipment 

It will also not fund: 

• Costs related to courses that are already running or staffing that is already funded 

• Applications should not include costs for ‘business as usual’ activity or activity which has already been planned to be introduced in 2026, 2027 or 2028 

• Recoverable VAT – Your costings should be exclusive of VAT, if your organisation is able to recover it, or inclusive of VAT if your organisation is unable to recover it. 

• Programme contingency costs and contingent liabilities   

• Over run costs needed to complete delivery 

• Management fees to support general organisational running costs above 6% of your total programme costs 

Successful lead applicants, delivery partners and delivery contractors will all require £1m Professional Indemnity Insurance, £5m Public Liability Insurance and, where appropriate, £10m Employee Liability Insurance. 

Prior to us sending Grant Funding Agreements to successful applicants, we require up to date insurance certificates for lead applicants and delivery partners.  
 
For those working with contractors you will confirm within your application that you acknowledge they too require sufficient Indemnity, Public Liability and where appropriate employee Liability Insurance, and that you as a lead will be responsible for checking this is in place. 

 Applicants must read the web guidance, fully complete the application form and submit all additional application information as per the below deadlines. 

16/02/2026

Formal Launch of web guidance and open call for applications

08/03/2026

Deadline for applications

16/03/2026 – 26/03/2026

Appraisal/Interviews and Decision making

April 2026

Projects commence

Monthly (ongoing)

Monitoring

April 2027

Evaluation Reporting

All applications submitted will be scored against a consistent appraisal framework. 

For applications from £100,000 – £149,999 awards will be made based on an application and appraisal process.  

For applications above £149,999, awards will be made based on an application, appraisal process and in person interview held in York week commencing 23/03/2026. 

For the appraisal of applications, HM Treasury’s 5 Cases methodology will be followed to ensure that applications demonstrate the strategic, economic, financial, commercial and management case for investment. This will require applicants to:  

• Explain and evidence the Strategic Fit with the programme objectives  

• Explain and evidence the positive Impact the programme will have and explain how measurable outputs and outcomes will be achieved 

• Provide an accurate and reasonable breakdown of programme costs  

• Explain how the programme will be deliverable in full within the timeframe  

• Agree a schedule for payment of the grant that enables the programme to be delivered effectively. Claims are made at the end of each month and paid retrospectively on defrayed expenditure only

• Agree to data sharing protocols consistent with GDPR policy and the Privacy Policy of the Combined Authority  

• Adhere to Branding and Publicity guidelines which will be issued by the Combined Authority 

• Participate in providing monthly monitoring information via emails and meetings; focused on the reporting of expenditure, outputs and outcomes 

• Participate in Evaluation activities as required. This will be proportionate to the scale and scope of the programme. For larger programmes, there may be greater expectation on applicants (to provide case study material, to conduct surveys, to analyse value for money, etc.) over and above the reporting of costs, outputs and outcomes 

• Participate in networking meetings alongside other successful applicants to help capture and communicate impact, as required 

• As a public authority, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority must comply with the terms of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and projects may only be taken forward where they are fully compliant with Subsidy Control regulations. In applying you are agreeing to provide the necessary details of your project and any required undertakings to comply with and to enable the Combined Authority to meet its legal obligations under the UK Subsidy Control Regime. This may include, but is not limited to, the submission by you of a satisfactory subsidy control assessment and/or declarations, notifications, or announcements to the relevant authorities pursuant to Subsidy Control legislation. For more information, click here 

For support with your application, please contact tracy.burleigh@yorknorthyorks-ca.org.uk 

Yes. 

Yes.

All applications will be considered equally after the closing date of 08/03/2026.   

Yes, provided they can demonstrate they have the capacity / resource to deliver both. 

Yes, provided they can demonstrate that they have a good working relationship with employers and networks within York and North Yorkshire.  

Partners do not have to be based in York and North Yorkshire, however the project must be delivered within the York and North Yorkshire region. 

Yes, all employers receiving support must have a business address registered within York and North Yorkshire. 

Sole traders are welcome to apply. Any potential lead applicant should have the financial strength and capability to be a credible administrator and guarantor of the funds for the programme. All lead applicants will be required to supply copies of their latest financial accounts to evidence their capability to effectively deliver the project. 

Yes, a PDF version of the application form can be downloaded here. This is intended to facilitate pre application preparation and sharing between partners where appropriate. Please note that all applications must be submitted via the online form. 

• Get Britain Working White Paper – Get Britain Working White Paper – GOV.UK 

• Get Britain Working Inactivity Trailblazer – Get Britain Working Inactivity Trailblazer > Mayoral Combined Authority