6,000 people across Devon to receive employment support

Organisations delivering the Connect to Work programme across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay have come together to support the rollout of the £22.7 million initiative.

The collaboration event, held at the Future Skills Centre in Exeter on Tuesday 24 February, brought together partners involved in delivering the scheme, which aims to improve access to employment, health and skills support for more than 6,000 people across the region.

Connect to Work is being led by Devon County Council in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council, with funding from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Those attending the event included representatives from Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council, Learn Devon, Eat That Frog, I Can Do That, United Response, Crystal Pathways and Pluss.

The session provided an opportunity for partners to align their approaches and strengthen working relationships, with the aim of delivering a consistent and high-quality experience for people accessing the programme.

Councillor Simon Clist, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Assets and Resources, said: “This event was a good opportunity to bring partners together to ensure the programme reaches the people who will benefit most and that support is consistent right across the county.

"The aim of this initiative is to help individuals overcome barriers to employment and move towards fulfilling jobs. There’s a strong sense of shared purpose from all involved in this project, which highlights the importance of working collectively across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.”

Councillor Chris Lewis, Torbay Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Place Development and Economic Growth, said:
“Connect to Work is all about supporting people to overcome the barriers they may face to finding and staying in work. This collaboration event offered a valuable opportunity for partners to come together and share insights, strengthening the roll out of the programme across Devon, including here in Torbay.

"It also highlighted the collective commitment of everyone involved in Devon’s programme to delivering impactful, high-quality support that enables participants to achieve their employment goals.”

Councillor Sally Cresswell, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “Connect to Work is all about giving people the support, confidence, and the tools they need to make their next step into employment. The collaboration event was an opportunity for us all as partners to come together to plan how we help bring this to fruition.

“Connect to Work brings together personalised guidance, training opportunities and direct links with local employers to help residents move forward, working as partners helps us bring all of our expertise together for this project.”

The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority retains strategic oversight of the programme, ensuring it aligns with the ambitions of the Get Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Working Plan and the region’s Local Growth Plan.

Together, those plans set out a coordinated approach to reducing economic inactivity, tackling labour shortages and connecting residents with the skills and jobs needed to support long-term growth.

More information about Connect to Work and the support available across the region can be found on Devon County Council’s website.