THOUSANDS of Liverpool City Region residents a year could receive help to find or keep jobs under a new funding package. 

The Connect to Work programme is a voluntary scheme aimed at supporting people in ‘hidden unemployment’ – who may be disabled, long-term sick or in disadvantaged groups – into work. 

Under proposals approved at this month’s Combined Authority meeting, the programme could receive up to £14m funding from the government each year, supporting at least 4,000 City region residents annually at its peak. Delivery would last at least 3 years, with a 24-month extension subject to future government spending reviews. 

Connect to Work is a key part of the Government’s £240m plan to ‘Get Britain Working’, which aims to shake up the employment support system to tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity. 

National figures show 1.5m people are unemployed, more than 9m people are economically inactive and a record 2.8m people are out of work due to long-term sickness.  

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:- "For too long, too many people – particularly those living with long-term illness, disabilities, or other challenges – have been shut out of the job market. The Connect to Work programme is a chance to put that right, offering the tailored support people need to find or stay in work. We’ve shown what’s possible when decisions and funding are placed in local hands – creating opportunities, closing skills gaps, and helping thousands of people into jobs. As one of the trailblazer regions for the government’s Get Britain Working plan, we’re proud to be leading the way in showing how this can be done. This isn’t just about getting people into work – it’s about helping them reach their potential, unlocking opportunities that benefit everyone in our communities and, ultimately, driving growth. With up to £14m a year, we know that can transform thousands of lives – and help make our region fairer, stronger, and more prosperous.” 

The programme is part of a new national strategy to create a modern careers service – bringing together local work, health and skills support to meet local needs. 

As part of plans to remove barriers to employment, a review will look at how employers can be better supported to employ and retain workers with disabilities and health conditions.   

Connect to Work will target people with a disability, a long-term health condition or belonging to a specific disadvantaged group. 

This includes carers and ex-carers, ex-offenders, homeless people, Armed Forces veterans, people with drug or alcohol issues, care leavers, refugees, victims of domestic violence, young people involved in gangs or serious violence and victims of modern slavery. 

It will be developed by the Combined Authority and delivered in partnership with  the Department for Work and Pensions, a successful partnership which has run a series of targeted recruitment campaigns, including for Eurovision.   

The programme differs from traditional employment support in that the eligibility criteria focus on individual health and support needs rather than status in the job market. It is funded for three years and expected to be renewed to run for five in total, beginning in 2025.