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Connect to Work
Connect to Work is a free and voluntary initiative funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Connect to Work officially launched in Luton on the 9th of December 2025.
The programme takes a locally led approach to support individuals with health conditions, disabilities, or other complex barriers to find, secure, and sustain suitable employment – or to help them remain, to support job retention.
Through Connect to Work, participants will receive personalised, one-to-one support to build confidence, develop skills, and take positive steps into work. Support will continue throughout the programme, both in and outside of the workplace, with joined-up services across Luton to ensure people have the right help at the right time.
Employers will also benefit from Connect to Work. The Connect to Work team will connect employers with motivated candidates, provide pre-employment training, and offer ongoing in-work support, helping new employees settle in, thrive, and contribute to an inclusive workplace.
What does the support look like?
Personalised plan based on your skills, needs and goals
Connections to local employers and job opportunities
Help with CVs, job applications, interview preparation and training opportunities
Access local health and community services
Ongoing mentoring from experienced employment advisers
Who is eligible?
You are eligible to join Connect to Work if you:
are aged 18 or over
are out of work, or economically inactive (not working for 6 months and not in training)
live in Luton
have the right to work in the UK
face one or more of the following barriers:
long-term health condition (physical or mental)
a disability
a complex barrier including
an offender (someone who is serving a community service) or ex-offender (someone who has completed a custodial or community sentence)
a carer
an ex-carer
a homeless person
a former member of His Majesty’s (HM) Armed Forces (AF), a member of HM AF reserves, or a partner of current or former Armed Forces personnel
a person for whom a drug or alcohol dependency, including a history of dependency, presents a significant barrier to employment
care experienced young person or a care leaver
a refugee, a resettled Afghan
a person on the Ukrainian scheme
a victim/survivor of domestic abuse
a young people identified as being involved or at risk of being involved in serious violence
a victim of modern slavery.
There is no requirement for you to be claiming benefits or be registered as job seeking.
