THOUSANDS of disabled people and those with health conditions across North Wales will be helped into good, secure jobs following a major expansion of tailored employment support announced by the Department for Work and Pensions on Thursday (March 5).
A new £300 million investment into the Connect to Work programme will deliver localised, tailored support to over 75,000 people who are disabled, have health conditions, or face complex barriers to work across 16 areas in England and Wales. North Wales is among those areas to have funding confirmed on Thursday.
North Wales will receive up to £13.3 million to support up to 3,550 disabled people, people with health conditions and those with complex barriers to work with tailored employment support to find good, secure employment. This forms part of a total programme investment of over £950 million across England and Wales.
With 2.8 million people out of work due to ill-health across the country, the Government is taking action to tackle economic inactivity and grow the economy as part of its Plan for Change. In North Wales, the disability employment gap stands at 27.5%, higher than the UK average of 26.8%, meaning disabled people in the region face greater barriers to accessing employment than in many other parts of the country.
Connect to Work gives local areas the tools they need to design support around what works for their communities, understanding local job markets and addressing the specific challenges their residents face.
Minister for Employment, The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson said: “This government believes in the potential of every person in every part of the UK. That’s why I’m delighted to confirm funding for North Wales.
“For too long, too many people have been written off and left behind. Connect to Work changes that – giving people real, tailored support to move into good jobs and out of poverty. That’s what spreading opportunity means in practice.“
The programme’s support is designed to fit around the individual — participants can meet their employment adviser wherever they feel most comfortable, whether that’s a local café, a park, or a community hub.
It provides intensive, personalised help including individual coaching from employment specialists, job matching services, and ongoing support for both participants and employers, breaking down the barriers that can make accessing traditional employment support feel daunting and ensuring people don’t just get jobs — they keep them.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “Providing targeted help for people to get into work, means a more financially stable future and a better quality of life for many.
“The tailored support offered by Connect to Work services in Wales will ensure anyone who can work is supported to get the right job for them, helping them achieve their goals.”
Councillor Jason McLellan, Council Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said: “We know that disabled people and those with health conditions have so much to offer our communities, yet too many are left without the support they need to move into meaningful work.
“As the accountable body for Connect to Work across North Wales, we are committed to working with our partners, local organisations and our health colleagues to remove barriers, nurture wellbeing, and unlock potential.
“Our aim is to ensure that everyone who can and wants to work has the support they need to thrive.”
Connect to Work is already transforming lives across England, with early delivery areas demonstrating the real difference targeted employment support can make.
On his experience with Connect to Work, Adrian from Portsmouth said: “Since joining Connect to Work with Portsmouth City Council, I have been lucky enough to be paired with Leigh who has been helping me with narrowing down my job search and finding employers who are willing to support me with reasonable adjustments.
“We have applied for 2 roles, and we have spoken to an employer together about an office-based role and will be inquiring about other roles within their company.
“We are also applying to an online pet caring service provider to look at becoming a Dog Boarder which Leigh, my advisor, came up with as an idea for me. So only having had a few sessions with Leigh I feel I’m making more progress towards work than I was able to manage on my own.“
A Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) spokesperson said: “Local government welcomes the opportunity this latest initiative gives to invest in locally led specialist employment support.
“Enabling councils to plan and deliver such vital support locally is a welcome recognition of local government’s key role in addressing economic inactivity.
“Councils are well placed to deliver this programme, working with other employment and health support services in their areas, and increasing the connections within other key council services, including adult and community learning, adult social care, public health, housing, education, skills and economic development.
“We look forward to working with all our key partners across all parts of Wales to ensure that this vital support enables those individuals with complex barriers to find and stay in work.”
To access support, disabled people and those with health conditions or complex barriers to work can self-refer or be referred through various routes including healthcare professionals, Local Authorities, and voluntary sector partners.
Connect to Work is part of the UK Government’s wider £3.5 billion Get Britain Working package — the biggest investment in employment support for a generation.
The package includes overhauling Jobcentres so Work Coaches have more time to support individuals and restarting long-term unemployed people into work. It also delivers a Youth Guarantee, so every young person is earning or learning, and expands health and work initiatives like WorkWell.
Together, these measures are designed to tackle economic inactivity, break down barriers to employment, and drive up opportunity in every part of the country.
