Lancashire residents from all walks of life are overcoming setbacks and moving into meaningful employment thanks to an innovative new supported employment programme.
Connect to Work, a national initiative to help more people access and sustain employment, is managed locally by the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub and delivered by specialists in supported employment. The programme offers personalised, one‑to‑one support to people with disabilities, long‑term health conditions, or those from priority groups such as veterans, carers, people who have experienced domestic violence. The programme provides a person-centred approach to help those wanting to secure and maintain fulfilling work by offering the right support, at the right time, in the right place. It is fully funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is completely voluntary.
For Caner, who is neurodiverse, job hunting had become a discouraging experience despite strong academic achievements. “I hadn't had a job before,” he said. “I tried myself for a while, but we were at a bit of a standstill. It felt like I was getting nowhere.”
With tailored support from his Employment Officer, including CV development and help with transport to interviews, Caner soon felt a shift. “I was excited – it was something new. Something that might yield different results, and it did!”
After three months on the programme, he secured his first job as a retail assistant at Primark in Southport. “I was elated when I finally got a job,” he said. “It’s great – it’s the support system that’s in place, checking in on you while you're working, making sure everything’s fine.”
Bradley also sought support after redundancy left him struggling to find a new role due to his learning disability. He self-referred and began working closely with his Employment Officer, Michelle, who provided tailored one-to-one support.
“Michelle’s wonderful,” Bradley said. “She helped me update my CV, go to interviews – she was just wonderful.”
After 12 months, Bradley secured a role as an Administration Officer at Together an Active Future (TaAF), a community-driven initiative helping people become more active in ways that feel meaningful and enjoyable. Michelle continued to support him after he started in the role, including helping him apply for Access to Work so he could receive support in the workplace.
“I was a bit nervous, but I enjoy my job,” Bradley said. “If I need help with spelling, [my Support Worker] helps with that – they keep me on track.”
He praised Michelle’s dedication, sharing that Michelle gave up her time to support him in his role until the Support Worker was assigned. He said, “I would like to say a big thank you to her!”
Bradley has since developed a wide range of new skills, from email communication to database management, and says his confidence has grown significantly. He recently received national recognition, winning a place on the Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List 2025 in the Work and Education category.
“I am very proud,” he said.
Now, Bradley is encouraging others to take the first step. “Get in contact and give it a try – they have been really helpful in finding me a job. It will help you feel more confident and help you get a job.”
If you or someone you know would like to find out more about Connect to Work, visit the Lancashire Skills Hub website.