Maximus has launched its delivery of the Connect to Work programme across Lancashire, which will support more than a thousand residents facing complex barriers into sustained, meaningful employment.
Delivered on behalf of the Lancashire Combined County Authority, Maximus will lead the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) strand of the programme, providing tailored, person-centred support for people whose barriers to work run deeper than job matching alone.
Connect to Work is designed to reach across communities and tackle entrenched barriers to work, strengthening local economies and improving work and health outcomes.
The programme will support adults aged 18 and over, including those with experience of the criminal justice system, caring responsibilities, homelessness, armed forces service, substance dependency, care experience, migration, domestic abuse, or long-term health conditions and disabilities.
Working alongside local organisations and employers, Maximus will use a “place, train, and maintain” supported employment model, matching people to suitable opportunities, providing tailored training, and delivering in-work support to help people stay and progress in employment.
Gareth Parry, Managing Director at Maximus, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be delivering Connect to Work in Lancashire. Over the past few weeks, we have been out across the county meeting local partners, employers, and support organisations, and the enthusiasm for this programme has been extraordinary.
Like many areas, Lancashire has real challenges when it comes to unemployment and deprivation, but it also has incredible people and communities who are ready for change. We know from experience the difference that the right support at the right time can make – not just in helping someone find a job, but in transforming lives.”
