Learning and Work Institute has been commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) to produce a series of top tips to support local government to develop a high-quality Connect to Work service to help people into work.  

Rolling out from April 2025 and spanning 43 areas across England and four areas in Wales, Connect to Work aims to support 100,000 disabled people and people with complex needs into sustainable employment each year. 

These top tips will give officers, and elected members alike, a good understanding of the benefits of Connect to Work, how to make good use of it, and how it can be aligned to other council and external work. The top tip themes are: 

  1. Identifying and engaging participants
  2. Strategic integration and joining up services
  3. Employer engagement
  4. Engagement with wider partners
  5. Skills and experience of staff. 

The top tips do not seek to replicate Government guidance, which should be read separately. They are also hosted on the LGA website.

18 August 2026

Labour Market Briefing: August 2026

Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 18 August 2026.

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18 August 2026

Labour market dashboard

Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.

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18 August 2026

Labour market stats response, August 2026

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.

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12 August 2026

Small employers, big opportunities: apprenticeships for young people

Olly Newton, Executive Director at Edge Foundation, reflects on key messages from the Edge Foundation-sponsored workshop at Learning and Work Institute’s Employment and Skills Convention, exploring how small employers and local partners can support more young people into apprenticeships.

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11 August 2026

Delivering local work and health programmes: Top tips

Developed as part of the Labour Market Evidence Programme, these top tips share practical lessons on designing, delivering and evaluating local work and health programmes.

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21 July 2026

Labour Market Briefing: July 2026

Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 21 July 2026.

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21 July 2026

Labour market stats response, July 2026

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.

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10 July 2026

Building trust before jobs: supporting NEET young people in East Finchley 

Andrew Potter, Project Manager of the JobsPlus pilot in East Finchley, outlines a different approach to supporting young people into employment and training.

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29 June 2026

What enables the effective design, delivery and evaluation of local work and health programmes?

This report presents findings from an evidence review on what enables the effective design, delivery and evaluation of local health and work programmes.

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