Salford Residents Are Benefitting from Supported Employment

• The Salford Supported Employment Service is commissioned by Salford City Council and delivered by the Growth Company.
• It supports people with learning disabilities and autism by connecting them with inclusive employers and offering tailored one-to-one guidance.
• The programme has reached full capacity, with many participants entering work for the first time or after long-term unemployment.

A unique job support programme is helping Salford residents and businesses to reach their full potential.

Since 2023, Salford Supported Employment has helped people with learning disabilities and autism to find meaningful work by connecting them with inclusive employers.

Commissioned by Salford City Council and delivered by the Growth Company, the service offers one-to-one support to participants, while also working with local firms and organisations to improve recruitment outcomes and create disability-confident workplaces.

Positive Outcomes

The supported employment team recognises that securing paid work can be a significant challenge for many neurodivergent people. That’s why they take the time to get to know each person’s needs, skills, and aspirations, offering tailored advice, guidance, and support to make sure that they feel ready to enter the world of work. 

This approach has already paid off.

The programme has reached full capacity, with all places filled and the referral window closed. Among those who have moved into work, 11 percent had never held a job before, and 32 percent had been unemployed for over a year. Of those entering employment, 74 percent are autistic, and 25 percent have a learning disability.

The Stories Behind the Numbers

While these statistics are impressive, they don’t fully capture the positive effect that the programme has had on people’s lives. Behind every percentage point, there is a very human story of determination and growth.

One participant, a single parent who had been out of work for over a decade, joined the programme while managing several health conditions, including autism, misophonia, and anxiety. With tailored support around budgeting, housing, wellbeing, and employability, she gradually overcame barriers to work and successfully secured an apprenticeship with the Growth Company in early 2024. She has since settled into the role and sustained employment.

Another participant, who has a learning disability and previous experience in childcare, joined the programme following three years of unemployment. After receiving a range of personal and professional support, she started her own candle-making business, showcasing and selling her products locally.

A third participant joined Salford Supported Employment during a particularly difficult period when he felt stuck and unsure about his future. With dedicated CV writing and job searching support, he found a profession that offered him a sense of purpose and greater financial independence. Within nine months, he realised his longstanding goal of owning his own home.

The participant reserved special praise for his adviser, Lorraine: “It’s been such a crazy journey. Thank you for being a kind and supportive person at a time when I didn’t have much hope.”

Lorraine was just as pleased: “It’s amazing to see how much a job can change someone’s life. He has worked so hard to get to this point, and it’s wonderful to see everything coming together for him.”

Reflecting on such inspiring stories from the programme’s first two years, Michelle Leeson, Managing Director for employment at the Growth Company, commented: “We want to make sure people with learning disabilities and autism get the right support to find paid work and feel confident in it.

“At the same time, we’re here for employers who are eager to build more inclusive teams and see the value in different ways of thinking and working. The Supported Employment Service helps make both of these things possible.”

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a mission to generate growth, create jobs, and improve lives. We help people and businesses across the UK to develop, grow and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire and Humber.

Contact us today to find out more.