Project details
Portfolio: Education, skills and inclusion
Area: County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Sunderland
Funding amount: up to £50m
Funder: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Project status: Live
Delivery partner: Various - please see below
Key contact: Health and Employability Team
Key contact email: connecttowork@northeast-ca.gov.uk
Page last updated 21-11-2025
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By bringing together health services and employment support, Connect to Work helps people who are currently out of the workforce, particularly those facing significant barriers, to stay in work or return to work. The programme supports the vision of a more inclusive economy, enabling local people to realise their potential while contributing to growth across the North East and the wider country.
Across England and Wales, Connect to Work will support around 100,000 disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and those facing complex challenges to enter and sustain employment. Here in the North East, the programme will help more than 13,500 residents between 1st October 2025 and 31st March 2030.
Participation is completely voluntary. Support is personalised to each resident’s circumstances and delivered through the evidence-based Supported Employment approach: place, train, and maintain. This includes two specialist interventions:
- Individual Placement and Support (IPS): Employment support delivered alongside primary and secondary healthcare and other key services. IPS is designed for people with health conditions, disabilities, and individuals from specified disadvantaged groups.
- SEQF / Local Supported Employment (LSE): A more intensive intervention, offering deeper, more frequent support from an Employment Specialist. LSE is designed for people with autism, learning disabilities, or individuals from specified disadvantaged groups who may benefit from enhanced, tailored support.
As the Accountable Body, the North East Combined Authority commissions, implements, and manages Connect to Work across the region.
Residents who feel Connect to Work could support their current situation can self-refer using our online Expression of Interest (EOI) form. Once submitted, the most appropriate delivery partner in their area will get in touch to discuss eligibility and the support available.
Employers interested in understanding how Connect to Work can help them retain staff, strengthen workplace health, or adopt more inclusive recruitment practices can complete our Employer EOI form to receive tailored advice and information from local delivery partners.
More information for residents, employers, and support or referral organisations is available in the animations below: