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The £7.7 million investment, provided through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), will enable º£½Ç»»ÆÞ County Council to manage Connect to Work over the next five years, with the aim of supporting around 2,000 º£½Ç»»ÆÞ residents into employment.

Some residents face barriers that can make finding and keeping a job particularly challenging,  such as long-term health conditions, disabilities, or other personal circumstances.

Connect to Work, from Careers º£½Ç»»ÆÞ together with delivery partners including Seetec, the NHS and º£½Ç»»ÆÞ County Council’s Adult Front Door service, aims to break down these barriers by offering tailored one-to-one support and connecting people with local employers who understand their needs.

The programme is voluntary and open to anyone aged over 18 who is entitled to live and work in the UK. People do not need to be on benefits to take part, they just need to want to work, and to meet the eligibility criteria (details on our website).

Each participant will be paired with a specialist employment adviser, who will:

• help set goals and create a step-by-step plan
• support job searching, applications and interviews
• work with employers to match people to the right opportunities
• provide up to 12 months of one-to-one support for those out of work, or up to 4 months of help for those already in work but struggling to stay in their role

Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member for Business and Skills at º£½Ç»»ÆÞ County Council, said: "This is about º£½Ç»»ÆÞ people and º£½Ç»»ÆÞ jobs. £7.7 million is a serious investment into the county from DWP. Connect to Work will give local people the practical help they need to move into sustained employment, stay in work, and contribute to our county’s growing economy. We don’t do token gestures here – this is about outcomes, and we’ll make sure it delivers real results for those º£½Ç»»ÆÞ people who want our help in connecting to work!"

Speaking at a launch event for Connect to Work at Visit º£½Ç»»ÆÞ New Road, Judy Gibbs, Head of Skills and Employability at º£½Ç»»ÆÞ County Council, added, "It is a real privilege for my Careers º£½Ç»»ÆÞ team to lead Connect to Work, creating º£½Ç»»ÆÞ’s future workforce. Every resident deserves the chance to access meaningful employment, whatever challenges they face.

Connect to Work is like a set of traffic lights – something may stop you getting into work, but we can help you overcome barriers, get ready, and connect you with local employers so you can go into a job. By providing tailored guidance, Connect to Work will change lives and strengthen º£½Ç»»ÆÞ’s economy."

Delivery of Connect to Work across º£½Ç»»ÆÞ will begin from October. For more information visit the Connect to Work webpage.