One Year of Connect to Work: Building Connections and Opportunity Across Lancashire

One year on from its launch, Connect to Work is now delivering across the whole of Lancashire, helping residents move into and sustain employment through personalised support tailored to their needs and goals. By March 2030, the programme will support over 11,000 residents to find and stay in good work.

Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, Connect to Work supports people who face barriers to employment by providing tailored, voluntary support to help them find, secure and stay in work.

Managed by the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, the programme has grown significantly over the past twelve months. Alongside Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council, three additional providers (Ingeus, Maximus and Standguide) have joined the partnership. Together, the six delivery partners are ensuring residents across Lancashire can access support, regardless of where they live.

Connect to Work delivery partners across Lancashire.

Connecting Employment, Health and Wellbeing

As the programme has become established, a key focus has been building stronger connections between employment support, health services, employers and local stakeholders.

Connect to Work is working closely with GP practices, hospitals, community organisations and other partners across Lancashire to make support more accessible and ensure residents can access the right help at the right time. By embedding employment support within trusted health and community settings, the programme is helping to reach people who may benefit from additional support to achieve their employment goals.

This joined up approach recognises the important relationship between good work, good health and overall wellbeing. Through collaboration with health partners and local stakeholders, Connect to Work is helping to create clearer pathways into support, while strengthening the network of organisations working together to improve employment outcomes for Lancashire residents.

Employers also play a vital role in this work. Continued engagement with businesses across the county is helping to create opportunities for residents while encouraging inclusive recruitment practices that benefit both employers and jobseekers.

While these partnerships are helping to create a more connected support system across Lancashire, their impact is best seen through the experiences of the residents accessing the service. One resident who has benefited from Connect to Work is Mary*, who was supported by Blackpool Council to overcome significant challenges and move into employment.

Mary’s Story

Mary* was at one of the most difficult points in her life when she joined Connect to Work. She had been out of work for a long period, was experiencing homelessness and was managing a learning difficulty while awaiting an autism diagnosis. These challenges had left her feeling uncertain about her future and how she could return to work.

After hearing about the programme through the Jobcentre, Mary chose to join because it felt like a safe and supportive place to start rebuilding her confidence. Her Employment Specialist at Blackpool Council worked closely with her to understand her circumstances, helping her take small, manageable steps towards employment. This included support with her CV, interview preparation and obtaining the identification she needed to apply for jobs.

With this support, Mary secured a full-time hospitality role in a local hotel. Connect to Work continued to support her as she settled into her new role and built her confidence.

Today, employment has given Mary a renewed sense of purpose and stability. She is developing new skills, building her confidence and looking positively towards the future.

* Name changed to protect anonymity.

As Connect to Work enters its second year, the programme will continue building on these partnerships to support more residents, strengthen communities and improve health and wellbeing across Lancashire.

More information about Connect to Work, including how to get involved or make a referral, is available at LancashireSkillsHub.co.uk/connect-to-work