- Corporation to help Londoners with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or other complex barriers to work
- Square Mile’s governing body receives £1.1million government funding to support eligible Londoners
- New five year Connect to Work programme to run over five years
The Corporation has joined forces with Central London Forward (CLF) and 11 London boroughs to launch Connect to Work.
The major new employment programme will help 17,000 Londoners who face disabilities, long-term health conditions, or other complex barriers to employment into work by 2030.
Funded by the UK Government, Connect to Work represents a £72 million investment over five years to help people across central London move into sustainable, meaningful employment.
The initiative will support people with a wide range of challenges from physical or mental health conditions to other long-standing barriers to work and will also help those at risk of losing their job.
Residents in Camden, the , Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, and Westminster, are eligible for the scheme.
While 11 of the 12 councils are delivering the scheme solely for their own residents, the City Corporation is reaching out across all 12 borough areas with the aim of supporting around 300 Londoners. The City Corporation will receive £1.1m in funding as part of the five-year programme.
The programme will be managed by Central London Forward and delivered locally in the 12 central London boroughs, either directly by local authorities or through commissioned delivery partners. Participants will benefit from voluntary, personalised, and flexible support, helping them not only find a job but thrive in it long-term. Employers will also receive tailored assistance to ensure placements are successful and inclusive.
The programme’s “place and train” model is backed by international evidence and has already shown strong results in pilot schemes. Local authorities will work closely with healthcare providers, community organisations, and other partners to reach residents most in need of help.
Chair of the Corporation’s Education Board, Naresh Sonpar, said:
“This programme is a vital step in helping Londoners overcome barriers to employment and build meaningful careers.
“By connecting jobseekers with employers and offering tailored support, we’re building stronger communities and championing inclusive economic growth.”
Chair of Central London Forward and Leader of Westminster City Council, Councillor Adam Hug, said:
“Too many Londoners still struggle to access good jobs. Worklessness has a huge impact on families and communities and holds back the capital’s growth.
“We’re proud to be working with the Government and councils across central London to launch Connect to Work—offering flexible, practical support to those who need it most.”
Director of Central London Forward, Shadi Brazell, said:
“The programme will allow us to build on the success of previous CLF programmes which have helped over 20,000 residents into employment since 2018.
“Connect to Work represents a large-scale expansion of the ‘place and train’ model which we know has been very successful in test programmes, including in central London and has a strong evidence base internationally and in existing programmes.
“We are looking forward to working closely with our partners in the NHS, local councils and employers to improve access to the labour market across central London.”
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