New Employment Support for Burnley and Ribble Valley Residents through Connect to Work

• The Growth Company will deliver Connect to Work in Burnley and the Ribble Valley on behalf of Ingeus and the Lancashire Combined County Authority.
• The programme offers one-to-one support for people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or other barriers to employment.
• Connect to Work also helps employers build a more inclusive workforce and support staff who may be at risk of leaving work.

People in East Lancashire with health conditions are now able to benefit from tailored support through Connect to Work.

Connect to Work is a voluntary, government-funded programme designed to help people find work, stay in work, or return to work.

The Growth Company will deliver the programme in Burnley and the Ribble Valley on behalf of Ingeus and the Lancashire Combined County Authority.

Residents will be able to get one-to-one support from employment specialists who can help them build confidence, understand their strengths, look for suitable jobs, and get the right support once they are in work.

The programme is aimed at people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or other barriers to employment, and it also supports people who are already in work but are struggling to stay in their job.

Support includes help identifying the right kind of role, fast-tracked job search, tailored CV support, interview preparation, in-work support, and signposting to appropriate health services so that employment support reflects a person’s broader needs and wellbeing.

The programme also offers support for employers, helping them fill vacancies, support existing staff who may be at risk of leaving work, and build a more inclusive workforce through advice on reasonable adjustments.

The Growth Company already has experience of delivering Connect to Work in other areas, including Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Alex Howley, Operations Director at the Growth Company, said: “We know that many people want to work, but for some the right support hasn’t always been easy to access.

“Connect to Work is about changing that. By bringing together employment, health, and skills support, we can offer people in Burnley and the Ribble Valley practical help built around their lives, their goals, and their strengths.

“We are proud to be working with Ingeus, the Lancashire Combined County Authority, and other local partners to deliver this support in East Lancashire.

“We have already seen the difference Connect to Work can make in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, and we’re looking forward to helping more residents find, stay in, and succeed in work.”

Alex was speaking after a launch event hosted by the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, which brought together partners, stakeholders, and delivery organisations with a shared commitment to improving employment outcomes across the region.

Find out more about Connect to Work and get support in Burnley and the Ribble Valley.

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.