Register for support from the Job Shop

Currently, it is estimated that there are about 3 million economically inactive people in the UK, of whom 1.9 million people would like to work, but are not engaged in the labour market, sometimes due to health issues or disability.

Connect to Work will support up to 100,000 individuals with disabilities, long term health conditions or complex barriers across England & Wales to secure work. It will help connect local work, health and skills support and help eligible participants to secure sustainable work through a voluntary supported employment model, adhering to Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) frameworks

Connect to Work is a voluntary programme funded by the UK Government to support disabled people or people with health conditions, and individuals with complex barriers to move into and maintain employment. It will also provide support to those in work but at risk of losing their employment, helping them to retain their jobs. 

• British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) provide an overview of Supported Employment here - What is Supported Employment?
• IPS Grow provides more information about the IPS model, its approach and impact:  About IPS - IPS Grow

Customers who are suitable for Connect to Work Programme should:

• Meet the current Connect to Work eligibility criteria
• Aged 16 - 24
• Not be on another DWP funded programme e.g. Restart or Work Well
• Live in the Coventry City area (CV1 - CV6)
• Be unemployed, or employed but at risk of losing employment, if you have been at your job for more than 3 months (this does not include zero-hour contracts)

Have a health condition, disability, or be part of one of the specified groups with complex barriers into employment that would benefit from support as stated:

• An offender who is serving a community service
• An ex-offender who has completed a custodial or community sentence
• A carer
• An ex-carer
• A homeless person
• A former member of His Majesty’s (HM) Armed Forces (AF), a member of HM AF reserves, or a partner of current or former Armed Forces personnel
• A person for whom a drug or alcohol dependency, including a history of dependency, presents a significant barrier to employment
• Care experienced young person or a care leaver
• A refugee, a resettled Afghan
• A person on the Ukrainian scheme
• A victim/survivor of domestic abuse
• Young people identified as being involved or at risk of being involved in serious violence
• A victim of modern slavery

Participants on the programme will receive specialist one-to-one support from a dedicated Employment Specialist including:

• Vocational Profiling and personalised Action Plan
• Access to a wide range of employers
• Health-related interventions and support
• Job specific CV and cover letter creation
• Mock interviews
• Better-off calculations
• National Careers Service skills and job assessments
• Travel planning
• Ongoing in-work support
• Career progression and development support once in-work

How do I register? 

Register with The Job Shop

You will need to input the following information:

• Name
• Phone number
• Email
• Address (including postcode) 
• Date of birth 

Please note that postcode, age range and employment status are requested to ensure you see the most appropriate Employment Specialist, as each Employment Specialist works within a separate area of specialism.