11 Jun Ministerial visit marks first anniversary of the pioneering Connect to Work programme in West London
We were delighted to welcome Minister for Employment Dame Diana Johnson today, to mark one year of our flagship Connect to Work programme – highlighting the sub-region’s national leadership in integrated employment support.
The visit, which took place at Shaw Trust’s Shepherd’s Bush hub in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, celebrates the programme’s achievements to date and offered an opportunity for the Minister to meet with participants, engage with an employer partner, and hear first-hand about the difference the programme is making.
Minister for Employment Dame Diana Johnson meets with Erin Walsh, Director of WLA, Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of LB Hammersmith & Fulham, representatives from the Greater London Authority and Shaw Trust, and participants and employers on the Connect to Work programme.
Launched in April 2025, West London was the first area in the country to go live with Connect to Work, securing £44 million in funding to support disabled residents and people with health conditions into employment.
In its first year, the programme has already exceeded expectations and continues to grow. WLA is currently supporting more than 2,600 participants, demonstrating the pressing need for tailored, locally integrated employment support.
A key innovation of West London’s approach has been its integration of employment support with both primary and secondary healthcare. Delivered in partnership with the NHS, local authorities and community providers, the programme ensures residents receive joined-up, personalised support that addresses both health and employment barriers.
This integrated model, underpinned by WLA’s nationally recognised triage system, creates a single coordinated gateway into support, helping people access the right provision quickly and effectively.
Looking ahead, WLA will continue to build on this success through a data-led approach, using insights from across the system to further integrate services, improve outcomes and ensure support reaches those who need it most.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, said:
“It’s simply excellent that supporting people to access meaningful work is at the heart of the government’s programme for a fairer Britain.
“For some years now, the councils that make up the West London Alliance have been working together on this agenda to pioneer new approaches which are local, integrated and people-centred. Connect to Work has made some significant progress so I’m really glad the Minister is here. I look forward to hearing her insights and working together to help people find the work they need”.
Mandy Skinner, Chief Executive of Hounslow Council and Chair of the WLA Health & Employment Board said:
“This programme shows what’s possible when health and employment systems truly work in partnership. We are proud to have pioneered the approach of fully integrating services across primary and secondary care here in West London. The next phase is about deepening that approach to support more residents into sustainable work.”
The Connect to Work programme is delivered on behalf of WLA by Shaw Trust, working with a wide network of partners to provide personalised, holistic support to residents.