The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed a £300 million expansion of Connect to Work, with the first services in Wales now open. Published on 5 March 2026, the update extends tailored employment support to more than 75,000 additional people across sixteen areas in England and Wales and takes total programme funding above £950 million under the Pathways to Work reforms. (gov.uk)
Allocations for Wales are set out as up to £3.9 million for Mid Wales to support 1,000 participants, up to £13.3 million for North Wales to support 3,550, and up to £14.4 million for South West Wales to support 3,850, with funding for South East Wales expected to follow. Among the 13 English areas named are West Yorkshire (up to £48.2 million for 13,350 people), the East Midlands (up to £44.1 million for 12,200), and Liverpool City Region (up to £43.1 million for 12,000). (gov.uk)
Connect to Work is locally led. Ring‑fenced grants pass from DWP to a named accountable authority under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973. Accountable Bodies design and commission delivery, agree governance with neighbouring upper‑tier councils where relevant, and are responsible for performance, evaluation and data returns. Provision must adhere to Individual Placement and Support and the Supported Employment Quality Framework fidelity scales. (gov.uk)
The delivery model is intensive and practical. Employment specialists co‑produce a vocational profile and action plan with each participant, maintain average active caseloads of up to 25, move quickly to job search and placement, and provide in‑work retention support. Employers should receive help with recruitment, adjustments and sustainment, with quality overseen through DWP’s external fidelity assessment system. (gov.uk)
Connect to Work forms part of the government’s Get Britain Working strategy and the Pathways to Work package. Related reforms include the Youth Guarantee and the WorkWell pilots integrating work and health support, with WorkWell expected to assist up to 56,000 people into work by spring 2026. (gov.uk)
Government material frames the expansion as a response to entrenched health‑related inactivity. Officials cite around 2.8 million people currently out of work due to health conditions and argue that locally designed, person‑centred support can raise participation and improve retention outcomes. (gov.uk)
Policy Wire analysis: Governance is designed for cross‑border delivery. The programme business case confirms DWP oversight through a standard major‑projects structure, an Infrastructure and Projects Authority Amber rating, a phased roll‑out to 2026, and an indicative volume profile of about 309,000 starts by 2029/30, peaking at roughly 100,000 per year. (gov.uk)
Commissioning and service design should reflect the expected offer: up to 12 months of support for those out of work and up to four months for in‑work retention, with caseload controls to preserve intensity. These parameters are intended to maintain service quality while allowing local flexibility. (gov.uk)
Early implementation in West London offers a template for multi‑year arrangements. In April 2025 DWP announced £42.8 million of funding over five years for a partnership of boroughs, signalling the programme’s use of stable, long‑term contracts where readiness is proven. (gov.uk)
For practitioners and front‑line referrers, the programme remains voluntary and locally led, operating through clusters of councils with an accountable body. Delivery is expected to integrate with existing health, skills and employment services and to be shaped around local labour market needs rather than a Jobcentre‑only approach. (gov.uk)