Connect to Work is the largest ever attempt to devolve employment support in England and Wales, with £1.18 billion of funding commissioned locally through 49 Accountable Bodies. With the Government committed to devolving employment support to mayors, it is an important early test of how national funding can be delivered through more localised commissioning.
This report draws on ERSA’s survey of providers to capture what commissioning looked like from the delivery side. It highlights examples of good practice, including early market engagement, adaptable commercial models and strong local referral networks, alongside challenges around unviable payment models, inconsistent procurement, fragmented lotting, unrealistic timescales and delivery infrastructure that wasn’t ready at launch. The result has been very uneven access, with some areas still yet to go fully live.
The report calls for clear national parameters alongside local flexibility, support to build commissioning capability, sustainable funding frameworks and transitions planned around service continuity, so that people are not left without support. It includes recommendations for national government, local commissioners and providers, and an appendix mapping commercial models and go-live dates across every delivery area.
Connect to Work is the largest ever attempt to devolve employment support in England and Wales, with £1.18 billion of funding commissioned locally through 49 Accountable Bodies. With the Government committed to devolving employment support to mayors, it is an important early test of how national funding can be delivered through more localised commissioning.
This report draws on ERSA’s survey of providers to capture what commissioning looked like from the delivery side. It highlights examples of good practice, including early market engagement, adaptable commercial models and strong local referral networks, alongside challenges around unviable payment models, inconsistent procurement, fragmented lotting, unrealistic timescales and delivery infrastructure that wasn’t ready at launch. The result has been very uneven access, with some areas still yet to go fully live.
The report calls for clear national parameters alongside local flexibility, support to build commissioning capability, sustainable funding frameworks and transitions planned around service continuity, so that people are not left without support. It includes recommendations for national government, local commissioners and providers, and an appendix mapping commercial models and go-live dates across every delivery area.