Blackpool council launches initiative to connect jobseekers with employers
Blackpool Council has rolled out a series of targeted employment support programmes in a bid to strengthen connections between jobseekers and local employers, part of a broader effort to reduce economic inactivity and improve work outcomes across the Fylde Coast.
At the forefront of these efforts is the WorkWell service, an early-support initiative designed to help residents overcome health-related and other employment barriers. The programme, funded in partnership with Lancashire and South Cumbria health and employment organisations, provides personalised support, including work and health coaching, to those who are unemployed, struggling to stay in work due to health conditions, or at risk of losing their jobs. Participants receive up to 12 weeks of specialised guidance aimed at addressing both their health and employment needs.
The WorkWell service is open to anyone aged 16 or older living on the Fylde Coast or registered with a local GP, and includes support for both individuals and employers.
Employers can refer staff currently on sick leave or finding it difficult to remain in the workplace, as the service also offers assistance in discussing workplace adjustments, flexible and hybrid working.
WorkWell forms part of a wider “Positive Steps into Work” suite of services delivered by the council, which supports unemployed people back into employment while also aiding local businesses to recruit jobseekers from the community.
Alongside WorkWell, Blackpool Council promotes the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service, a free and confidential employment initiative for residents aged 16 and over. This specialist programme focuses on helping individuals, particularly those coping with severe mental health conditions, find and sustain meaningful employment. Notably, the IPS service has been recognised with an “Exemplary” quality mark, one of the highest national accolades for supported employment services. The Central and West Lancashire IPS team has supported over 800 people into jobs and is projected to reach more than 1,000 successful job starts shortly.
“For many residents facing complex challenges, access to support is a game-changer,” said mental health and employment specialists involved in the programme, highlighting positive feedback from both participants and employers alike.
Another important pathway for employment development in Blackpool is Project SEARCH, an internship programme aimed at students aged 16 to 24 with an education, health and care plan. The one-year programme provides on-the-job experience to help young people develop skills and confidence needed for long-term employment, with placements in local businesses and public sector organisations.
These local services are complemented by the national Connect to Work programme, part of the UK Government’s Get Britain Working strategy, designed to help economically inactive individuals, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions, find suitable employment. Under the scheme, local partners including Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Blackpool Council are collaborating to deliver tailored support across the region.
The programme aims to assist more than 11,000 people in Lancashire over the coming years, focusing on helping participants into sustainable paid jobs and working closely with employers to match candidates to suitable roles.
Connect to Work emphasises personalised, one-to-one engagement and sustained employer liaison, helping jobseekers not only find roles but also retain them. Experts involved say this kind of joined-up support could “make a real difference” to thousands of residents looking to enter or re-enter the workforce.
Taken together, these initiatives signal an active approach by Blackpool Council and its partners to address barriers to employment and strengthen ties between jobseekers and employers. Services like WorkWell, IPS and Project SEARCH are tailored to meet a variety of needs, supporting those with health issues, mental health conditions, or learning and developmental challenges, and form part of a holistic employment strategy for the borough.
Local businesses and residents interested in these services can find information and referral details on the Blackpool Council website and through partner employment hubs supporting the Lancashire area.