Connect to Work Lancashire helps people build confidence and move closer to employment

• Connect to Work provides personalised support for people who face barriers to finding or staying in work.
• As a supply chain partner in Lancashire, the Growth Company delivers Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services through the programme in Burnley and the Ribble Valley.
• Find out how one of our Employment Specialists helped a participant to build their confidence, gain experience, and consider a wider range of jobs and locations.

For many people, finding and staying in work can feel like an overwhelming task, especially when they have a health condition.

Commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Connect to Work is a free, voluntary service for people who are looking for work, as well as those who are in work but at risk of losing their job.

The programme offers tailored guidance from dedicated Employment Specialists who work with participants to help them improve their confidence, identify appropriate opportunities, and achieve their career goals.

In Lancashire, Connect to Work is delivered by Ingeus, with the Growth Company providing Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services in Burnley and the Ribble Valley as a supply chain partner.

Building confidence and exploring new opportunities

One person benefiting from the programme is CE, a 25-year-old who joined following a long period of unemployment. Living with ADHD and anxiety, CE faced several obstacles to finding work, including low self-esteem and a lack of work experience.

Despite these challenges, she was determined to find a part-time role and rebuild her confidence.

When she first enrolled, CE only felt comfortable considering back-office administrative roles with minimal social interaction. With regular support and encouragement from Bethany, her Employment Specialist, she began contemplating a wider range of opportunities.

Together, they updated and tailored her CV for hospitality and customer-service roles and identified opportunities that matched her interests and strengths.

Bethany also arranged a visit to a local coffee shop so CE could see the working environment for herself. This helped her learn more about customer service, workplace expectations, and the day-to-day responsibilities of working in a café.

Bethany then helped CE secure an interview with Starbucks, giving her useful experience, which made her feel more confident about applying for customer-facing roles.

Taking practical steps towards work

As her confidence has grown, CE has become more open to different types of work. She is now actively exploring opportunities at smaller cafés, where she feels the environment would be a good fit, and is more open to roles that involve interacting with customers.

CE has also made progress outside her job search that could help her prepare for work. She has become more independent, spending more time in town on her own and developing more consistent daily routines.

Another important step has been widening the area in which she looks for work. Previously focused only on familiar locations, CE is now considering opportunities in neighbouring areas. With support from her Employment Specialist, she has researched public transport options, giving her access to a wider range of potential jobs.

Reflecting on her journey so far, CE said: “My advisor, Bethany, has been very good at making me feel comfortable and more open to different roles near me.

“I think this process has been good for me and will help me improve a lot. We’ve applied for jobs and gone to see places in person to make it easier for me to do interviews, which has helped a lot.”

CE is still looking for the right role, but the progress she’s made shows how personalised employment support can help people overcome barriers to work.

Find out more about Connect to Work in Lancashire.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 35-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Learn more about the health and wellbeing support that we deliver.